Mumbai: 72-year-old booked for shooting woman with airgun

Michael Coutinho. Pic/Hanif Patel

A 72-year-old Vasai resident has been booked for injuring a female cyclist while trying to shoot a stray dog with an airgun on Friday afternoon.

The victim, 28-year-old Sarita Bhoir, who works as a housemaid, was riding home in Vasai West at the time of the incident.

Sarita Bhoir. Pic/Hanif Patel

As she was approaching a bungalow named Mavico at Giriz, she saw the owner, Michael Coutinho, standing at the gate with an airgun in hand.

One of the airguns seized by the Vasai police. Pic/Hanif Patel

In her statement to the Vasai police, Bhoir said, "Coutinho saw me on my bicycle. Still, he fired the gun and the bullet hit my right thigh and I fell down on the road. My thigh was bleeding and I was screaming with pain. Instead of helping me, he ran inside the bungalow. A couple of other housemaids, who were passing by, saw me and they rushed me to Cardinal Gracias Memorial Hospital."

A police officer records Sarita Bhoir's statement. Pic/Hanif Patel

"On the complaint of Bhoir, we have booked Coutinho under Sections 336 and 338 of the Indian Penal Code, which deal with endangering human life and causing grievous hurt through rash or negligent actions respectively," an officer of the Vasai police station said.

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During his interrogation, Coutinho revealed that he was trying to shoot the canine as his pet dog had been attacked and bitten by a couple of strays near his bungalow.

The accused's bungalow. Pic/Hanif Patel

"We seized two airguns from the accused's bungalow. Coutinho is a landlord and he is living with his family," the officer said.

"Further investigation is underway," said DCP Sanjay Kumar Patil.

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The no. of airguns seized from the bungalow