Police register cross FIRS for firing, knife attack over dispute

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:The Pundlik Nagar police on Wednesday registered cross FIRs against members of two rival groups due to an escalated knife attack and suspected gunfire near Hanuman Chowk.The police said that the clash occurred on April 16 at 8pm after a verbal altercation led to both groups assembling at the spot. The confrontation quickly turned violent, with allegations of assault from both sides.According to one complaint, Kunal Kishor Salve (26), a resident of Nyaynagar, alleged that Nilesh alias Surya Narayan Ranjane and his associates attacked him during the confrontation. Salve stated that one of the accused caught hold of him while Ranjane attempted to stab the former in the neck. Salve managed to evade the fatal blow, but suffered a knife injury to his back.The situation intensified when members from both groups allegedly pulled out firearms during the scuffle. Salve told police that a gunshot was heard amid the chaos, though he could not identify who fired.In the counter complaint, members of rival group led by Pawan Anil Divekar (30) accused Salve and his associates of assault and criminal intimidation. Police said both cases include charges related to unlawful assembly, assault, criminal intimidation, and use of weapons, with provisions of the Arms Act invoked for firearm-related offences."CCTV footage from the area is being analysed to ascertain the sequence of events and identify the person who fired," said inspector Ashok Bhandare of Pundaliknagar police station.