Man hurt in case of mistaken identity

MUMBAI: A 56-year-old engineer from Bandra (West) was attacked by a 23-year-old in a case of alleged mistaken identity on Monday night. The police nabbed the accused Sahil Sayyed within three hours of the incident on Monday and was taken to a local court on Tuesday.

According to Bandra police, Sayyed was in Bandra a few days back when he had tried to intervene and stop a fight between two people. He, however, was beaten up by 10 to 12 people. Police said that Sayyed wanted to seek revenge. “He came to Bandra on Monday evening and was looking for the people who had assaulted him previously near Rang Sharda in Bandra (West). When he saw the Makarand Gaaydhani, 56, he mistook him for one the people who had attacked him. Therefore, Sayyed started following him,” said a police officer.

Police said Gaaydhani was going to an ATM kiosk to update his bank passbook when the accused approached him from behind and attacked him with a knife on his cheek. The victim started bleeding profusely but as soon as the accused realised that he had attacked the wrong person, he escaped from the spot.

“The victim is a very well-educated and respected person in his area. He was rushed to Lilavati Hospital where he is admitted,” said an officer. Police said Gaaydhani is recovering.

The Bandra police station had formed a special team consisting of officers from the detection team and the accused was arrested within three hours of the attack. CCTV footage of the area was scrutinised and with the help of informers, the accused was nabbed from Bandra.

Police said Sayyed had panicked after attacking the victim as he realised he had assaulted the wrong person.