21 May,2014 07:11 AM IST | | Salil Urunkar
One of them had an illegal firearm in his possession and thought the auto driver had tipped off the police
Suspecting that he was a police informer who had leaked information about one of them possessing a country-made revolver, four youths opened fire on a 24-year-old auto driver near the railway reservation center on Shankarsheth Road near Swargate on Monday night.
The driver, identified as Umesh Suresh Pawar (24), a resident of Yashwantnagar in Yerawada, however escaped unhurt in the attack and lodged an FIR against the four suspects at Swargate police station.
Based on the complaint, police registered a case against Vikas Taur, Omkar Kamble, Somnath Sakat and Gaurav Kamble, under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 34 (common intention) of the IPC and relevant sections of the Arms Act.
The Swargate police arrested Omkar, Somnath and Gaurav - all between 20 and 25 years of age - on Tuesday morning. They have been remanded in police custody till May 23. Assistant Police Inspector Sandesh Kenjale said, "The auto driver and the four suspects are friends and stay in the same area. They had gone for a marriage ceremony and, while returning, stopped to drink liquor in an open space near the railway reservation center on Shankarsheth road. That's when the
dispute started."
"Vikas Taur, who is still absconding, had the illegal firearm in his possession. He suspected that Umesh Pawar had given a tip-off to the police about the weapon. In the middle of a heated argument, Gaurav Kamble took the weapon from Taur and fired at Umesh.
Since they were under the influence of alcohol, the shot missed Umesh and he escaped. Taur has a criminal record and has cases registered against him at various police stations. We are also checking the background of the three arrested suspects," added Kenjale.
