Jabalpur, September 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A 48-year-old sculptor was allegedly shot dead by two to three unidentified youths in the Bhantalaiya Sindhi Camp area of Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur district, with police suspecting that an old dispute may have led to the murder.
The victim, identified as Babba alias Manoj Sonkar, was attacked between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, shortly after he completed work on a Lord Ganesha idol near his home.
According to police, Sonkar had been making idols in the area during the festive season for several years. On Friday night, he was working on a Ganesha idol at a temporary pandal. After finishing his work, he stepped outside for a break when two to three youths reportedly arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire before fleeing.
A bullet struck Sonkar in the abdomen. People working on idols nearby rushed to the spot after hearing the gunshots and took him to Hanumantal police station. He was subsequently shifted to the district hospital, where doctors attempted to save him, but he died during treatment.
Additional Superintendent of Police Ayush Jakhar, who reached the scene with his team, said preliminary investigation indicated that longstanding enmity could be a possible motive.
Jakhar said Sonkar had reportedly been involved in a long-running dispute with a person identified as Shubham Maratha and some others. However, he added that even the victim’s family was currently unable to determine the precise reason behind the attack.
Police suspect that three to four people may have been involved, although their individual roles and the circumstances leading to the shooting are yet to be established.
Investigators have begun examining CCTV footage from the surrounding area and questioning eyewitnesses. Technical evidence is also being analysed to identify and trace the suspected assailants.
Police teams have inspected the crime scene and are collecting evidence, while footage from nearby cameras is being reviewed to establish the suspects’ movements.
Further investigation is underway to identify the accused and establish the motive behind the killing.
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