Pune: Saswad police on Friday arrested eight people in connection with the alleged assault on a group of 14 men during Iftar gathering at Askarwadi lake near Bopdev Ghat on March 13.Investigating officer and assistant police inspector Vaibhav Sonawane said, “The accused were arrested from a nearby village based on local intelligence. During questioning, they admitted to their involvement. They were produced before a court on Friday and remanded in police custody till March 30.”All eight suspects were apprehended during an early morning raid in Purandar taluka’s Bhivari village. The arrested individuals have been identified as Ganesh Valmik Katke (29), Ganesh Ashok Dalvi (39), Nikhil Vasant Katke (28), Sagar Narayan Katke (35), Sunil Ramdas Bhorade (36), Ajit Shantaram Katke (33), Yuvraj Bajirao Katke (38), and Rushikesh Sanjay Katke (23).According to police, a group of 14 men from Kondhwa and Camp areas had gathered for Iftar when, around 7pm, a mob of 150 men armed with sticks and sharp weapons arrived on motorcycles. The attackers allegedly hurled abuses and assaulted the group. While some managed to escape, several others sustained serious injuries and had to be hospitalised.The police had initially identified 10 to 15 suspects but struggled to locate them as the men had switched off their mobile phones and were frequently changing locations. “Efforts are ongoing to trace the remaining absconding accused,” Sonawane added. The delay in making arrests drew sharp criticism from local residents and political groups. Members of the Samajwadi Party (SP) staged a protest outside the Superintendent of Police’s office in Pashan to demand immediate action.Jambuvant Manohar, president, Samajwadi Party’s city unit, said the protest has been temporarily suspended following the arrests. “We have withdrawn our protest for now, but demand immediate arrest of remaining suspects,” Manohar said.
