Pune, 15th July 2026: A youth was seriously injured after a group of armed men allegedly attacked him with a sickle in Pune's Kothrud area on Tuesday evening. The victim, Amit Shinde, sustained severe head injuries in the assault, which was captured on CCTV cameras installed near the spot.
Police have launched an investigation and are analysing the footage to trace the attackers.
According to police, Shinde worked at a mobile phone shop in Kothrud. At around 7 pm, he was standing outside the shop when eight to ten men suddenly arrived and attacked him.
The assailants allegedly struck him multiple times with a sickle, causing two deep injuries to his head. After the attack, the group fled the scene, leaving Shinde critically injured. He was immediately taken to hospital for treatment.
The incident has drawn attention because Shinde was previously linked to a criminal case involving alleged gangster Nilesh Ghaywal.
According to police sources, Ghaywal had allegedly obtained a SIM card from Shinde's mobile shop using forged documents. During the investigation into that case, Shinde had emerged as the complainant, and a case was also registered against him in connection with the SIM card transaction.
Police are now examining whether the latest attack has any connection with that earlier case or whether it was the result of a personal dispute. Officials have clarified that the initial investigation points towards personal rivalry, but no angle has been ruled out.
Investigators are collecting CCTV footage and other evidence to identify those involved in the attack. Police are also questioning witnesses and verifying whether the assault was planned.
Meanwhile, police said Nilesh Ghaywal is believed to have fled abroad in September, and investigators are looking into whether his network continues to operate from overseas. However, officials have not established any direct link between Ghaywal and the Kothrud attack so far.
No arrests have been made in the case yet. Police said efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the attackers and determine the exact motive behind the assault.
