Pune Mirror

By Tanaji Khot

Posted On Friday, August 10, 2012

Narendra Prasad Nath, a 25-year-old engineer from Odisha working at an industrial unit in Chakan, was waylaid by three unidentified youth who picked a fight with him near Pune Railway station on Wednesday afternoon. Initially, when he cried for help, nobody came to his rescue.

Rajesh Nirgude

The victim Narendra Nath (L) who was helped by Rajil Menon (R), who even recorded the incident on his phone

But when a good samaritan, Rajil Menon, stopped and started recording the incident on his cellphone, a small crowd gathered at the scene forcing the culprits to flee. Rajil then gave chase and managed to nab one of the offenders.

This incident happened on the footpath opposite Hotel Dreamland on Wednesday. The youth picked a quarrel with Narendra after one banged into him. They not only assaulted him but managed to relieve Narendra of his mobile and Rs 3,000 he had just withdrawn from an ATM. Narendra says the youth probably watched him in the ATM and followed him thereafter.

Narendra is attacked near the Rly Station

The youth punched him around

Then take his money and cellphone

But there was more shock to follow for Narendra, when police took the assault and robbery incident lightly and not only refused to register a First Information Report (FIR) but also did not file a non-cognisable complaint (NC) against the culprits, one of whom was produced before them. Instead, they took down the Narendra’s and Rajil’s details and asked them to leave.

Narendra told Mirror, “I had come to see off a friend and withdrew Rs 3,000 from an ATM near the station. As I left to board a bus to Chakan, a guy came and bumped into me deliberately.

He started arguing without provocation and was soon joined by two accomplices. They abused me and started raining blows on me.

They started searching my pockets and snatched whatever they could. When I shouted for help one tried to muzzle me. I tried to hold onto my belongings but they overpowered me.”

“Nobody was ready to help. Then I saw a young man, Rajil Menon, capturing the scene on his cellphone. He told me to fight back. Sensing trouble, the three released me and fled. Rajil chased one who ran towards Alankar theatre.

The other two escaped towards station. Rajil caught hold of the youth, later identified himself as Shrikant Ratan Pathare, who had my cellphone and money. Soon, the police arrived,” added Narendra.

Rajil said, “First I tried to chase the two who ran towards the station but changed by mind and went after the third. I stopped to inform a traffic constable but he was unmoved.

We brought the assailant to to the cops, one of whom thrashed him and said he was a habitual offender. When we reached the Pune Station Police chowky, policemen on duty recorded our details and asked us to leave, claiming they would take action.”

Narendra added, “Even though the accused, victim, witness and evidence was before them, the police did not take a written complaint from me.”

A police constable on duty at the chowky told Mirror, “No such case has been reported to us for the whole day.”

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone II) Ramnath Pokale said, “If such has happened Bund Garden Police station’s jurisdiction, the complainant should meet me tomorrow morning with the recording. I will do the needful.”