Pune: A man was murdered by his sister's brother with a sickle on Monday afternoon in Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Yerawada, following an interfaith elopement. The Yerawada police have arrested two individuals in connection with the incident.

The deceased has been identified as Kathalu Kachru Lahaade (60), a resident of Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Yerwada. The accused, Ismail Riyaz Shaikh (24) and his friend Sanket Umesh Gupta (21), both from Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Yerawada, have been apprehended.

According to the complaint filed by the victim’s son, Dhammakiran Lahaade (25), both the Lahaade and Shaikh families live in Rajiv Gandhi Nagar. Kathalu’s son, Yogesh Lahaade (24), had a romantic relationship with Ismail’s sister, which led to the couple recently eloping and getting married. This enraged Ismail.

Around 1:30 PM on June 24, Ismail and his friend Sanket approached Kathalu Lahaade’s residence and attacked him with a sickle. Kathalu sustained severe injuries and died on the spot. The Yerawada police arrived promptly at the scene and arrested Ismail and Sanket.

Senior Police Inspector Ravindra Shelke of Yerawada Police Station stated, "The accused have been immediately arrested following the murder over the elopement of the sister."