A person was arrested and three minors apprehended after they attacked a man with an axe in Pashan amid New Year celebrations, following which his hand got severed from the wrist, Pune police said. The victim was rushed to a hospital soon after and his hand was re-attached by doctors, they added.
Officers identified the victim as Pankaj Tamboli, a 25-year-old student. Besides the three minors who were apprehended, the police also nabbed Gaurav Manwatkar of Tonde Chawl in Sutarwadi. According to Chatushringi police, the four assaulted a group of students near Sai Chowk on the Pashan-Sus Road early on Sunday.
Officers said Tamboli and his friends, who live in Pashan’s Panchvati area, had gone to Sai Chowk for dinner on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1. Later, they stayed back and wished people gathered there on the occasion of New Year.
Ashutosh Mane, a friend of Tamboli, said in his complaint to the police, “At this time, two persons came on a motorbike and demanded Rs 100 from Pankaj Tamboli and Mayur Funde. When refused, it led to a scuffle.”
Senior Police Inspector Balaji Pandhare, in-charge of Chatushringi police station, said, “The two who came on the motorcycle were minors. After a while, they called two others to the spot. When the others reached, one of them assaulted Tamboli with an axe… His hand was severed from the wrist.”
The police rushed Tamboli to a nearby hospital soon after. Later, he was shifted to Jupiter Hospital and his hand was re-attached. “He is stable now,” Pandhare added.n
