Robbers attack samaritan

PUNE: Anand Kantilal Gundecha was at a request stop waiting for a bus at 8.45pm on Monday on the Bus Rapid Transit System route on Pune-Satara Road when he saw a gang of three robbers pushing a youth and robbing him of cash and his smartphone close by.
Overcome by doing the right thing, he ran to ward off the attack and save the 18-year-old. But in the bargain, Gundecha was severely injured when one of the robbers slammed a cement block on his head, splitting it open.Gundecha also broke his hand when he lost balance and fell down. They also robbed him of cash and his smartphone.
Gundecha, 41, keeps accounts in a wholesale grocery shop in Market Yard. He is undergoing treatment in ward number three of Sassoon General Hospital where doctors said his condition is stable.
He was waiting to board a bus to Khed Shivapur where he lives when he saw the three robbers pushing the youth and robbing him.
"I rushed to his rescue, but the robbers took to their heels. I chased and overpowered one of them, but he raised an alarm and called back his accomplices. They came to his rescue and beat me up. Seeing me down, the trio robbed my smartphone and cash totally worth Rs 10,900 and fled. I shouted out and passers-by came to help me and chased the robbers, but they turned around and threatened to pelt stones. The chasers fled, but one of them felt pity for me and was kind enough to take me to the Market Yard police chowkey for filing a complaint," Gundecha told this TOI staffer when he visited him in the hospital on Wednesday.
"A policemen on seeing the blood oozing from my head gave me Rs 100 for travel expenses. He told me to get treated and then file a complaint. I visited two private hospitals, but they sought high deposit amounts which I could not pay. I then went to Sassoon hospital. I was administered six stitches on my head and my hand was put in a cast as I had a fractured elbow," he said.
Gundecha filed a complaint with the Dattawadi police station on Tuesday. He was shown some photographs and identified one of the robbers.
"I don't want my money or cellphone. I want these criminals arrested and punished. I want Pune Municipal Corporation to appoint security guards, conduct patrolling and install CCTV cameras on the Bus Rapid Transit System route to provide complete security cover to commuters in the night," Gundecha added.
Senior inspector Anil Patil, in charge of Dattawadi police station, said on Wednesday, "We have arrested Sagar Sonawane (19) and Karan Labade (19) from Dandekar bridge slums and detained their minor accomplice after investigations confirmed their involvement in robbing the accountant."