A violent assault in the Shirol tehsil of Kolhapur has left a 28-year-old man seriously injured after he questioned a group of youths for throwing a burning cigarette at him. The incident, which occurred on Monday night, has led to the arrest of three accused, with police actively searching for three others who are currently absconding.
The Night of the Attack: A Confrontation Turns Violent
The victim, identified as Shaileshkumar Mali (28), a resident of Mankapur in Karnataka's Belagavi district, was travelling from Ichalkaranji to Mankapur on his motorcycle via Shivnakwadi. According to details provided by the Kurundwad police station, the episode unfolded near a stream in Shivnakwadi at approximately 10 pm on Monday.
Mali was followed by six individuals riding on two motorcycles. As they reached Shivnakwadi, one of the pillion riders deliberately threw a lit cigarette at Mali. When Mali stopped his vehicle to confront the group and ask why they had done so, the situation escalated rapidly. The six youths allegedly surrounded him and launched a brutal physical attack.
Police Action and Arrests Following the Complaint
After the assault, a severely injured Shaileshkumar Mali was admitted to a private hospital in Ichalkaranji for treatment. He subsequently filed a formal complaint at the Kurundwad police station, leading to the registration of a case.
Sub-inspector J J Patil stated that the police swiftly utilized CCTV footage from the area to identify the perpetrators. Based on this evidence, three of the accused were arrested. They have been named as Sandeep Sonawane (21), Harshvardhan Kate (19), and Alok Devarshi (20), all hailing from Ichalkaranji.
In his complaint, Mali reported that during the attack, he was also struck with a stone, which contributed to his serious injuries. The police have confirmed that a hunt is ongoing for the three remaining accused who fled the scene and are currently absconding. Authorities have expressed confidence that they will be apprehended soon.
Ongoing Investigation and Community Concern
This shocking act of violence over a seemingly minor provocation has raised concerns about public safety in the area. The police investigation remains active, focusing on locating the fugitives and understanding the full motive behind the aggressive behaviour of the accused.
The case underscores the importance of surveillance technology, like CCTV, in solving crimes and bringing perpetrators to justice swiftly. The Kurundwad police's prompt action in making arrests based on video evidence has been a key development in this case.
