A woman NCP corporator from Airoli and her 11-year-old son were attacked on Tuesday by a gang of three women and two gun-toting men. Aparna Gavte, who is representing Digha ward for the second time, suffered injuries and is admitted to a hospital. The motive for the crime could not be ascertained immediately, said the police.
Aparna and her son were attacked when they had gone to a shop in Airoli on the occasion of Dhanteras, considered an auspicious day marked with purchase of gold and other items. As they got out of their car around 12.45, the gang charged at them.
"Seeing his mother getting assaulted, our son tried to stop the goons. But he too was beaten up by the women. Scared, he ran into the shopping outlet," said Aparna's husband Navin Gavte, who is also an NCP corporator.
"The gunmen did not allow our driver to came out of the car. They beat him up and snatched his mobile phone and the car's key at gunpoint. They also asked for his wallet, but he did not gave it to them," Gavte said.
As people gathered at the spot, the gang tried to flee in an auto rickshaw. However, passersby nabbed one woman, later identified as 29-year-old Ulhasnagar resident Anita Barati, and handed over her to the police.
Shahaji Umap, DCP (zone I), said, "We have registered case under section 397 (robbery) of the Indian Penal Code and sections 3 and 25 of Indian Arms Act. It is a serious case. We will arrest the other culprits soon and find out the motive for the attack."
Aparna suffered severe injuries to her face, eyes and chest. She was first taken to the NMMC Hospital. She is currently recuperating in the ICU of a private hospital in Vashi.
Gavte said this was the third attack on his family. "I was attacked and my car was burnt down last year by some unidentified people. My father was killed when I was a child. I and my family have been facing threats for years now."
Gavte added, "I have not been able to understand why these people attacked my wife. Probably, they came looking for me, but attacked her as I was not in the car. I was given police protection last year which was discontinued after four months. I have been asking for security from the police since then."
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