Pune: A 33-year-old IT professional, a resident of Mahalunge, was attacked with a billhook by two men outside an IT firm on Airport Road in Vimannagar around 3am on Thursday. The victim, originally from West Bengal, came to pick up his fiancée, also an IT employee, when the assailants attacked him, leaving his right hand fractured and causing injuries to his back and head, police said. The video of the assault was widely circulated on social media platforms. A case under Section 118 (2) (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by means of a dangerous weapon or means), 3(5) (common intention) of BNS and relevant sections of Maharashtra Police Act has been registered at Yerawada police station in the matter. PSI Mahesh Lamkhade, the investigating officer, told TOI, “Both accused, seen in the video, were arrested from Hadapsar within six hours of the incident. They were produced in court on Friday and remanded in police custody till Sept 15.” The accused have been identified as Balaji Shivaji Munde and Siddharth Ishwar Daliya, both aged 19, and residents of Hadapsar. While Balaji has a past criminal record, with two cases related to body offence registered with Hadapsar and Kalepadal police stations, Siddharth did not have a criminal background. He added that the assailants did not use the sharp edge of the billhook during the attack, which prevented the victim from sustaining severe injuries. The victim is out of danger and has been discharged from the hospital, he said. Lamkhade said the accused were allegedly instructed by their friend, a cab driver, to assault an IT firm employee in Vimannagar over suspicions of a love affair with his female friend. However, that person did not turn up, and they attacked someone else out of frustration after waiting outside the IT firm for some time. Police said the victim, who works with an IT firm in Hinjewadi, would routinely pick up his fiancée from her office before heading home. His fiancée and the cab driver’s female friend are employed at the same IT company, but they are not known to each other. The accused were using a two-wheeler, without a number plate, which has been seized, police said. “We tracked them through multiple CCTV cameras and eventually arrested them from Hadapsar. Munde initially tried to conceal his identity by giving us false details, including a fake name, but further interrogation confirmed his involvement in the crime,” a police official added. An officer from Yerawada police station said Munde’s family earlier sent him back to their hometown in Dharashiv district after his involvement in criminal activities. However, he returned without informing them and went on to attempt another crime on Thursday. The victim’s fiancée told TOI over the phone that they are still reeling from the trauma of the incident. The couple recently got engaged and are scheduled to get married in Feb next year. She added that her fiancé suffered serious injuries, calling the attack completely unexpected. Rahul Shirsath, president of Youth Congress Pune city unit and a resident of the area, has submitted a letter to the police demanding increased patrolling and stricter measures. “Criminal activities, including open consumption of marijuana, have been on the rise around IT firms in Vimannagar. Just two months ago, an incident of molestation involving a female employee of an IT firm was also reported,” he said.
