Police said the accused told them during investigation that Benade was repeatedly lodging complaints against them at different police stationsThe Kolhapur police on Friday arrested five persons in connection with the murder of a member of Kolhapur gram panchayat Rangoli which is in Hatkanangle taluka.Police Inspector Ravindra Kalamkar said the five persons, who have police records against them, kidnapped Lakhan Benade (32), a member of the gram panchayat on July 10 and murdered him the same day. “They told us that his body was chopped into pieces and thrown into a river in Belgaum district of Karnataka,” police inspector Ravindra Kalamkar said.The Rajarampuri police have arrested Vishal Ghaste, Akash Gaste, Sanskar Savarkde, Ajit Chudekar and Laxmi Vishal Ghaste in connection with the murder.Police said the accused told them during investigation that Benade was repeatedly lodging complaints against them at different police stations. “This had angered Vishal Ghaste who in connivance with other accused has allegedly murdered Benade,” Kalamakar said.The police said, “Prima facie, it seems there was a dispute between Benade and the accused over a woman who was staying with Benade. We do not know her relationship with Benade and the accused. But the goons held a grudge against Benade as he had lodged complaints against them at various police stations.”The police said Vishal Ghaste and his accomplices had kidnapped Benade near Shahu toll plaza and took him to Sankeshwar in Belgaum district of Karnataka. ”They have told us they murdered Benade and threw his body into the river… The body has not yet been found,” Kalamkar said.Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:gram panchayat