Depressed over father's demise, man goes on slashing spree

Depressed after hearing about his father's demise, a man went on a slashing spree, injuring two passersby at PL Lokhande Marg in Chembur on Tuesday afternoon. The debacle last for about 30 minutes, until he was overpowered by locals.

Gopinath Nair, 50, a native of Payyanur in Kannur district in Kerala, kept slashing people with a kitchen knife at 3pm near slums along PL Lokhande Marg. As per the Tilak Nagar cops, Nair lives alone and was working at a garment factory since the past month.

On Tuesday afternoon, Nair received a phone call from his brother in Kerala, who informed him of their father's death. An officer from Tilak Nagar police station said: "Upon receiving the news, Nair took a vegetable cutting knife, came on to the road, started abusing people and slashing passersby with it."

The officer further added: "Two people sustained injuries on their hand and shoulder after Nair attacked them."

The drama continued for about half an hour, before Nair was overpowered by the locals. He allegedly slashed anyone who would come close and cajole him into throwing aside the knife.

Another officer informed: "The locals gathered on the road and tried reasoning with Nair, but he was not ready to listen. In a final attempt to get him to let go of the knife, people started throwing stones at him, one of which hit his head. He then collapsed and was overpowered."

He added: "We have booked Nair for grievous hurt and have also lodged a case against an unknown person for injuring Nair." Nair is currently admitted at Rajawadi hospital.