Nagpur shopkeeper, 53, stabbed during pre-dawn break-in at Lendenagar grocery store

A theft attempt was made at a grocery store in the Lendenagar area, under Kapil Nagar police station limits in Nagpur, in the early hours of Friday. The shop owner, a 53-year-old man, was injured. A minor suspect is alleged to have attacked him with a knife.

The incident took place at around 5 am on October 23. Goldie Kirana Stores stands on Plot No. 6/12 in Lendenagar. It is owned by Pramod Zaduji Nagbhide, who lives at the same premises.

According to police, Nagbhide was asleep at home when he heard the sound of the shop shutter being slid. He came out to see what had happened and found a moped parked in front of the shop and the shutter partly open.

Nagbhide raised an alarm. One of those who had entered the shop crawled out from under the shutter and fled. The second suspect was trying to slip out from inside the shop. Nagbhide caught him.

The suspect he had caught, however, pulled out a knife and stabbed Nagbhide, injuring him. He then tried to flee on an Access scooter. The shopkeeper tried to stop him, and the two-wheeler fell over.

Nagbhide was shouting for help. Hearing him, residents of the neighbourhood rushed to the spot. They caught the suspect and handed him over to the police.

During questioning, police found that the suspect was a child in conflict with law. Further investigation revealed that the accomplice who fled is also a minor.

After getting treatment for his injuries, Nagbhide inspected his shop and found that Rs 1,300 had been stolen from the cash drawer.

On the shopkeeper's complaint, Kapil Nagar police have registered a case against both minor accused under Sections 305(a), 331(3), 118 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Sections 4 and 25 of the Arms Act and Section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act have also been invoked.

Police are searching for the accused minor who fled. Further investigation into the case is under way.