Hotelier attacked with sharp weapon in Turbhe lounge bar parking lot; case against three named

Brawls outside lounge bars and pubs in Navi Mumbai show no sign of stopping. Petty arguments, abuse, scuffles and attacks with sharp weapons are being reported. The latest incident took place at Mitron Lounge Bar in Turbhe, where a young hotelier was attacked with a sharp weapon in the parking lot in what amounted to an attempt on his life. The reported cause was a push received while dancing.

According to the police, Raj Gharat had gone to the bar in Turbhe on Monday with his friends and a woman friend. At about 5.15 am, while he was dancing in the bar's lounge, he bumped into Vicky Gupta, Yash Deshmukh, Ankush Keshrwani and some people with them. The two groups argued over this. The matter seemed to have been settled at the time, but the quarrel flared up again in the parking lot.

According to the complaint, when Gharat reached the bar's parking lot, Gupta, Deshmukh, Keshrwani and four or five people with them surrounded him and began abusing him. The altercation then turned physical. It is alleged that Gupta held Gharat and struck him with a sharp weapon on the head, near the left ear and near the right eye, leaving him seriously injured. It is also alleged that Deshmukh hit Mayur Bhagat with kicks and punches on the head, near the ribs and on the back. Keshrwani and the others with him are accused of beating Nitesh Patil, Yash Patil and Yagnyi Bhoir. The attack caused panic in the bar premises.

On receiving news of the incident, Senior Police Inspector Sunil Shinde of Turbhe police station, Assistant Police Inspector Wasim Shaikh of the crime detection squad and Sub-Inspector Vaibhav Navle reached the spot. The injured Gharat is being treated at the municipal hospital in Vashi. On his complaint, a case under various serious sections has been registered at Turbhe police station against Gupta, Deshmukh, Keshrwani and four or five unidentified people. Sub-Inspector Navle and the investigation team are conducting further inquiries.

Quarrels over trivial matters are repeatedly surfacing at lounge bars, pubs and other places that serve liquor in Navi Mumbai. Such incidents appear to occur especially late at night and in the early hours, outside the bar or in the parking lot. Over reasons such as a push while dancing, an argument over a chair or anger over an old feud, matters are escalating directly to violence. In some cases the use of sharp weapons has raised concern about the safety of ordinary customers.

People are asking whether bars, which charge customers heavily, make adequate arrangements for their safety. They say answers are needed on how many security guards are posted at the entrance and in the parking lot, whether CCTV cameras are working, and whether the management tries to stop disputes between customers in time. It is said that keeping security only inside the bar is not enough and that the outside parking lot and surrounding area must also be taken seriously.

There is fear that such incidents will damage Navi Mumbai's image as a safe city. Citizens are demanding that the police step up regular patrols around such bars, check the security arrangements of bar managements and take strict action against those who break the rules.