PALGHAR: Palghar Police have solved the murder of a 52-year-old woman who was allegedly bludgeoned to death with a hammer following a minor dispute in the Saphale police station area of Maharashtra's Palghar district, and two accused have been arrested, police said on Tuesday, according to news agency IANS.

The victim, Sajani Vinod Waghari, a resident of Adwan Sawarpada in Palghar taluka, was found injured near an iron bridge at Tepacha Pada on October 15, 2026. She was taken to the Saphale Primary Health Centre, where doctors declared her dead. The accused have been identified as Nilesh Dharamaji Chibhade, 35, a resident of Bambar Pada in Jawhar taluka, and Ujwala Navsu Khutade, 33, a resident of Dabhosa in Jawhar taluka, both in Palghar district.

Police said a case of accidental death (No. 32/2026) was initially registered at Saphale Police Station under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). However, during the inquest and medical examination, doctors found a serious injury behind the woman's ear, apparently caused by a weapon, which had led to excessive blood loss and her death. Police then registered a murder case (No. 119/2026) under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on October 15.

Considering the seriousness of the crime, Palghar Superintendent of Police Yatish Deshmukh directed the formation of separate teams of the Local Crime Branch and Saphale Police Station. The teams pursued leads through confidential information and technical analysis and identified the two suspects. During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to attacking Waghari on the head with a hammer following a minor altercation, police said — this is a police account of an alleged confession, and the charges remain allegations to be tested in court.

Both accused were produced before a court, which remanded them to five days of police custody until October 22. The case was cracked under the guidance of SP Yatish Deshmukh, Additional Superintendent of Police Vinayak Narale and Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Palghar division) Umesh Gawali, and further investigation is being conducted by Assistant Police Inspector Datta Shelke of Saphale Police Station. Sources: IANS (via Hi India); Mumbai Press.