Thane: Goons attack teens with knife at Upvan park

Ali Anis Qureshi is undergoing treatment at Lake City Hospital in Khopat after receiving a knife injury on his hand. Pic/Sameer Markande

A teenager and his friend were attacked by three people at a garden adjacent to Upvan Lake, Thane, on Sunday night. Residents claim lack of police presence in the area has led to a rise in hooliganism in the area. Vartak Nagar police have arrested an accused and detained two minors in the case.

The incident took place around 9.45 pm when Ali Anis Qureshi, 19, a resident of Cosmos Hill housing society adjacent to the lake, had gone out to the park to shoot a video of him playing kalimba. His friend Arush Rawal was recording the video when one person approached them and asked what they were doing there.

"I responded saying that he was also there hence he had no rights to ask me. He then took out a knife and tried to take our mobile phones," Ali recalled, and said, "We were scared and tried to run away. He followed us and tried to hit Ayush's head, but slashed my hand instead." He added, "I saw two more people with knives running towards us. We somehow managed to escape."

The duo then came out of the park and Ali narrated the ordeal to his brother over phone. The family then decided to approach Vartak Nagar police station. Police sent Ali to Chhatrapati Shivaji Hospital, from where he was later shifted to Lake City Hospital in Khopat.

Senior Inspector Sadashiv Nikam said, "We have arrested one 19-year-old and booked two minors. The garden closes at 8 pm but many still linger inside, as the walls are broken in several places, leading to such incidents. We are urging Thane Municipal Corporation to repair the garden walls and illuminated the area with lights".

Ali's mother Shabina said, "Such instances have become a regular thing. Three people entered the park and assaulted the kids because they know there is no police vigilance. Upvan is just in front of the mayor's house, many police officers even come here for walks and are aware of the situation, but nobody takes any action." Kantilal Shah, secretary of the housing society, urged police to increase patrolling in the area to avoid such incidents in the future.