PUNE: A 22-year-old man was brutally killed by a gang after he narrowly escaped a gunshot in the early hours of Monday at Shastri Nagar in Pune’s Kothrud, police said. Seven people have been arrested in connection with the crime, and a minor has been detained.

The deceased, identified as Gaurav Avinash Thorat, was a resident of Shastri Nagar. His relative, Sagar Kasbe (47), lodged an FIR at the Kothrud police station.

According to police, a group of assailants opened fire on Thorat, but when the bullet missed, they attacked him with sharp weapons, leading to his death. A police team rushed to the scene and took him to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Dinesh Bhalerao (27), Sohail Sayyaad (24), Rakesh Savant (24), Sahil Wakde (25), Bandya Nagtilak (18), Lakhan Shirole (27), and Aniket Umap (22). A minor boy has also been taken into custody for his alleged involvement.

Police recovered a pistol and sharp weapons from the crime scene. Officials revealed that Thorat was unemployed and had been booked in a criminal case last year. He reportedly had past disputes with some of the accused.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Sambhaji Kadam confirmed that all accused have been arrested. They have been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act. The investigation is ongoing to determine the source of the firearm used in the crime.