Pune: An elderly man succumbed to injuries after being assaulted with an iron rod by robbers near WestEnd Chowk in Aundh early Thursday morning. The Chatuhshrungi Police have registered a case and detained four suspects, including three minors.
Taking serious note of the incident, Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar has ordered the transfer of Senior Police Inspector Ajay Kulkarni of Chatuhshrungi Police Station to the Police Control Room.
The victim, Sameer Roychowdhury (77), a resident of Sayali Garden, Aundh, was attacked in the incident. A complaint was filed by Satish Shreyas Shetty (30), who reported that the attackers also assaulted Shetty and Ramsobit Kumar Thaku Mandal (38).
According to reports, six assailants arrived on a rickshaw and motorcycles. The severely injured Roychowdhury was taken to a private hospital, where he later died. In response to the incident, local residents, led by Adv. Madhukar Musale and Archana Musale, organized a candle march on Saturday from Purvika Mobile Shop to WestEnd Chowk to pay tribute to Roychowdhury.
The march was attended by the victim's family and concerned citizens, who expressed their frustration with the police administration by holding placards questioning their vigilance and demanding better security.
I sell newspapers regularly at WestEnd Chowk. Around 5:15 AM on Thursday, I noticed six individuals in the area, playing loud music from a rickshaw and arguing. Initially, I thought it was just a dispute among them. However, by 5:30 AM, I realized something was wrong and found Sameer Roychowdhury, who regularly bought newspapers from me, lying injured. I immediately informed his family and took him to the hospital, but unfortunately, he passed away. It's heartbreaking and a tragic loss.
Avinash Nevase, Newspaper vendor, Aundh
Incidents of early morning assaults and robberies are not uncommon in the area, but many residents avoid reporting them to the police to avoid complications.
This recent incident has heightened fear among early morning walkers from Medipoint to Aloma County, Nagras Road, Mahadji Shinde Road, Sanewadi, Bremen Chowk to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Chowk.