PUNE: A 39-year-old civil engineer sustained injuries to his head, face and hands after eight men threatened him with swords and brutally attacked him with sticks after a dispute over repairing potholes on Tarde Road in Karkunde vasti in Loni Kalbhor near Pune broke out on Tuesday.
The Loni Kalbhor police on Thursday arrested two of the eight men on the charge of rioting and voluntarily causing grievous injuries to the victim.
The engineer, Anil Jagtap who works in a construction firm, told TOI, “Passing of heavy vehicles like dumpers and truck via Karkunde vasti has caused massive damage to Tarde Road. It has deep potholes. I have held meetings with contractors transporting gravel to the construction sites in the village and convinced them to repair the potholes because the road is mostly used by them.”
Jagtap said the contractors were initially reluctant, but they considered his request and instructed their staff to fill the potholes on their own expenses.
“On Tuesday around 1.15pm five dumpers reached the spot and the work began. After the news spread, two of the eight men placed a sword on my neck and six others abused and attacked me with sticks. They said I had no authority to fill potholes. I fell unconscious and found injuries to my head, face and hands after I regained consciousness,” Tarde said.
The road belongs to state public works department and is meant for light vehicles, but is used by dumpers, trucks,cranes, multi axel lorries and containers. Local residents have time and again complained to government authorities to resurface the road, he added.
Senior inspector Rajendra Mokashi said, “We have arrested Ravindra Jagtap and Kishore Jagtap, both farmers, after the engineer registered an FIR against them and others under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Arms Act. A police team has been sent to arrest the other six who are on the run.”
