Criminal opens fire at man in Dattawadi

PUNE: A 30-year-old man sustained bullet injuries after a criminal on police records fired two rounds during the wee hours of Monday at Dattawadi.

The injured has been admitted to a private hospital at Erandwane. He is reported to be out of danger.

The incident took place while some local youths were celebrating the birthday of the prime suspect.

Suraj Bhalchandra Yashwant (30) of Rajendranagar on Lal Bahadur Shashtri Road sustained serious injuries in the incident.

His friend Mayur Sunil Bhagare (21) of Dattawadi lodged a complaint at Dattawaddi Police Station.

Senior inspector Anil Patil of Dattawadi Police Station told TOI that police have arrested five men – Akshay Marne, Maunesh Chalwadi alias Engraj, Subham Khedekar, Ashish Dhaware and Deepak Bhosale and booked 10 persons in connection with the case.

However, the man, who opened fire at the victim fled the spot.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), the incident occurred around 12.15 am near Mhatre bridge in Dattawadi.

“The injured has a few cases of body offences registered against him with different police stations in the city,” Patil said.

The suspect, who has been booked, is also involved in quite a few body offences, senior inspector Patil said.

Patil said that the man who opened the fire was celebrating his birthday near the bridge with other accomplices. They were cutting a cake and shouting.

Yashwant and Bhagare were passing through the area at that time, Patil said.

“The prime suspect thought that Yashwant was staring at him and it enraged him. Yashwant and Bhagare replied that they were not staring at him. However, the suspect refused to believe them and screamed at them,” Patil said.

In a fit of rage, the suspect fished out a fire arm and pointed it at the direction of Yashwant, Patil said.

When the suspect fired a bullet at him, Yashwant stumbled and fell down while trying to flee from the spot. Before he could stand up and run again, the suspect fired a second bullet, which hit Yashwant in his back, Patil said.

Police have started an investigation and a manhunt has been launched.