Three arrested for attacking 52-year-old lawyer with iron weapon in Pune road rage case

Wanowrie police in Pune have arrested three men in connection with a road rage incident in Kedari Nagar on Thursday evening. They are accused of attempt to murder of a 52-year-old lawyer. Four people allegedly attacked the lawyer with an iron weapon, causing a serious head injury. The three arrested accused have been sent to police custody till October 27.

The arrested are Suraj Vasant Jadhav (28), Arthan Ganesh Betgiri (19) and Shankar Balu Pawar (32). Jadhav lives in Shindewasti, Hadapsar, while Betgiri is a resident of Laxmi Nagar in Shewkar Basti, Hadapsar. Police have registered a case of attempt to murder against four people in the incident.

The injured lawyer is Latif Abdul Rahman alias Sameer Shaikh. He lives at Heritage Society in Kamela, Kondhwa, and is undergoing treatment at Sassoon General Hospital. His son, Huzaib Latif Shaikh (22), filed the complaint at Wanowrie police station. Senior Police Inspector Pandit Rejitwad confirmed the arrest of the three accused and their police custody till October 27. Assistant Police Inspector Sagar Janrao is investigating the case.

According to police, Huzaib Shaikh and his parents were returning home from the Cantonment court on separate two-wheelers. At around 5.30 pm on Thursday, a man on a Bullet motorcycle suddenly came in front of Huzaib's vehicle. Huzaib's vehicle then hit the back of the Bullet.

After the collision, the Bullet rider allegedly abused Huzaib and hit him with his hands. Latif Shaikh, who was coming on another vehicle, saw this, stopped and intervened. He asked the Bullet rider why he was hitting his son, and told him that they were lawyers.

According to the complaint, the Bullet rider threatened Latif Shaikh. He allegedly said, "So what if you are a lawyer, are you a cannon? I will send you to the clouds." He then called his associates to the spot. When they arrived, the four together attacked Latif Shaikh and struck him on the head with an iron weapon, leaving him seriously injured.

He was taken immediately to Sassoon General Hospital, where doctors treated the head injury and stitched the wound.

On receiving news of the incident, Additional Commissioner of Police Manoj Patil, Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajlakshmi Shivankar, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ramdas Ingawale, Senior Police Inspector Pandit Rejitwad and Police Inspector (Crime) Kailas Dabherao reached the spot and took stock.

Representatives of a lawyers' association also visited Latif Shaikh at Sassoon General Hospital and condemned the alleged attack. Wanowrie police are investigating further.