{
  "id": 12346879,
  "title": "Supari Killing Gone Wrong In Pune: Worker Shot In Head After Attackers Mistake Him For His Boss",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/supari-killing-gone-wrong-in-pune-worker-shot-in-head-after-attackers",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-06T09:19:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/pune/supari-killing-gone-wrong-in-pune-worker-shot-in-head-after-attackers-mistake-him-for-his-boss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pune police report that a contract killing in Shirur went awry when a water plant worker was shot in the head, mistaking him for his boss. The victim, Hamja Usman Sheikh, a 39-year-old, was killed around 6:30 am on September 29 at a water plant in Sai Nagar, Karegaon. Police identified his alleged target as Vikas Madhavrao Navale, who was involved in a land and financial dispute with one of the suspects. Five of the seven suspects have been arrested, while two are at large. Sheikh was reportedly at the site to switch on the water pump in the morning, while Navale also visited the location for his routine. The attackers had previously observed the area and knew Navale would be there. However, on the day of the incident, the assailants mistook Sheikh for Navale and shot him close-range. Police found shell casings at the crime scene, confirming the shooting. The case initially seemed like a random death but was later identified as a contract killing. Police believe the dispute between Sheikh and Navale led to the contract, which was passed from one suspect to another before the shooters were dispatched. The suspects, identified as Sarthak Sandesh Kokade, Tushar Ajay Todkar, Santosh Madhukar Manjare, Vitthal Nagnath Pikale, and Yogesh Vilas Idole, have been arrested, with two still on the run. Police suspect the attackers had ties to a firearm supply network and plan to investigate further.",
  "summary": "Pune: A contract killing allegedly went wrong in Shirur after armed assailants mistook a 39-year-old water plant worker for their intended target and shot him in the head, Pune Rural Police said. The victim, Hamja Usman Sheikh, was allegedly killed around 6.30 am on Sept 29 at a water plant in Sai Nagar, Karegaon, within the jurisdiction of Ranjangaon Police Station. Police said the actual target…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}