Pujari’s men open fire at store guard

Three unidentified men, suspected to be of the Ravi Pujari gang, shot at the watchman of a boutique at 33rd Road at Khar on Sunday afternoon. The boutique, White Peacock, belongs to Mohnani builders.

The watchman, Bablu Yadav, 25, who received bullet wounds on his right hand was rushed to Bhabha Hospital. He is reported to be out of danger.

According to the police, three youths entered the boutique around 1 pm. “The trio asked Yadav if the owner, Ekta Mohnani, was there. Sensing trouble, the other person who was with Yadav went towards the phone. They then shot Yadav with a pistol,” said a police official.

Additional commissioner of police Amitabh Gupta said, “Preliminary investigation suggests gangster Ravi Pujari may be behind the crime.”

The police said Pujari had threatened builder Ashok Mohnani two years ago. “We have registered a case of attempt to murder against the three unidentified men,” said a police official.

Talking to DNA Yadav said, “The men were in shirts and trousers and they talked in Hindi.”

Ekta Mohnani is the daughter of Ashok Mohnani. “In December 2007, a gunmen shot at Ashok Manik, 64, an employee of the Mohnani builders. They left a message for the builder to contact gangster Ravi Pujari,” said a police official on condition of anonymity.