Woman, dad-in-law fight off electrician who breaks into their flat, get slashed

MUMBAI: A 30-year-old woman and her father-in-law bravely fought off a knife-wielding man who broke into their Nalasopara flat on Sunday afternoon and managed to get him caught. Both suffered slash wounds inflicted by the accused, later identified as Mohammed Azghar (25), an electrician from Navi Mumbai who had visited their home three days ago to fix an inverter.
The complainant, Preeti Mishra, was admitted to a private hospital and administered stitches on her face and right hand; she was discharged on Monday evening. Her father-in-law Jayprakash (63) suffered slash wounds on the neck and chest.

The incident took place around 2.30pm, when Preeti and her younger daughter were takeing a nap in the bedroom of their ground floor flat in Sri Prastha building in Nalasopara (W). Her elder daughter went out to play and left the main door ajar. The police said Azghar, who was in the building for some work, noticed the open door and sneaked in. He entered the bedroom where Preeti and her daughter were sleeping and tried to open the cupboard. When he failed, he slashed Preeti, who woke up with a start and screamed. Jayprakash, who was unwell and had returned home from work, was in the other bedroom. He ran into their room to find a man standing over the bed with a knife in his hand and Preeti with deep gashes on the face and arms.

Jayprakash said he tried to grab Azghar, but the latter slashed him on the neck and chest too. Jayprakash managed to reach the balcony in a bid to call out to neighbours for help, but Azghar dragged him back into the living room. "I managed to grab his wrist and pull him down and then pinned him down," said Jayprakash. His daughter, who was also at home, ran out of the flat and alerted the neighbours, who rushed in and nabbed Azghar.

They then informed the police, who arrested him and booked him under IPC sections 459 (causing hurt during trespass) and 397 (robbery with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt). He has been remanded to two days police custody by the Vasai court.

Azghar has no criminal record, said the police.