PUNE: A 23-year-old youth intercepted a burglar stealing valuables from his flat at Khadakmal Ali in Ghorpade Peth, off Shivaji Road, on Thursday afternoon despite the latter firing two bullets and biting on his hand to flee the spot.
The brave heart, Awaiz Salim Ansari (23), suffered injuries on his hands after the burglar, Vithal Waman Bhole (47), bite him. When he screamed for help, residents of the area came running to his help, overpowered the burglar and called police.
Bhole, having his roots in Jalgaon, was currently staying at a rented accommodation at Hingnemala in Hadapsar. Senior inspector Shrihari Patil of the Khadak police said, “Bhole was convicted in a murder case registered at Bhusawal and was serving life term in the Nasik prison. He was released on Covid parole on July 8, after which he came to Pune.”
Patil said, “A few days ago, Bhole stole a motorcycle from the vegetable market in Hadapsar and used it commit the crime. We have seized the motorcycle after arresting him.”
Assistant commissioner of police Satish Govekar said, “We have taken down the statement of Ansari and registering a case of attempt to murder against Bhole. We are also checking his criminal background. We shall also check if he was involved in any crimes after shifting to Pune”.
Ansari, the daredevil youth, runs snack centres in Kondhwa and Balajinagar. He said, “We have two flats in the Heena Tower building. One is on the first floor and the other on the second floor. The first-floor flat was locked. My mother and other family members had gone to Mumbai for shopping and they returned around noon. I took some snacks from my Balajinagar outlet for my family members and reached home at around 1pm.”
Ansari said, “Around 1.15 pm, I heard some noises from the first-floor flat. I went downstairs and found the flat’s door open. After I entered the flat, I saw a man pulling out things from the cupboard. A bag was lying near his feet. Wielding a knife, he warned me as soon as he saw me. When he walked a few steps towards me, I told him not to harm me and take whatever he wants. As soon as he bent, I pounced on him.”
He said, “After I grabbed him between my hands and hips, he took out a pistol from his bag. Still, I dragged him outside the flat and then to the staircase. At this point, he bit on my hand several times. But I knew, he would fire at me if I lost the grip. So, I kept dragging him. After reaching downstairs, he fired a bullet. It hit the wall. Then he fired again. The second bullet hit the iron door of the society.”
Ansari said he was yelling for help while dragging the burglar. “People came running and intercepted him,” he said.
Hrishikesh Balgude, a resident of the area, said, “I had heard two loud noises like that of bursting firecrackers. I also heard Ansari calling for help. I rushed to the spot with others and we all intercepted the thief. We also found the pistol on the floor. There was an empty cartridge. I called up the police and we handed over the burglar to them.”
