Pune: A young woman’s timely intervention not only saved the life of a 58-year-old battery dealer but also foiled a ₹3 lakh robbery attempt by three motorcycle-borne assailants in Salisbury Park on Wednesday afternoon.According to Swargate police, Rajesh Dashrathlal Oswal was riding his scooter near Sambhavnath Jain Temple around 2.30pm when three unidentified men on a motorcycle tried to snatch his bag.The trio attacked Oswal with a billhook when the latter resisted the attempt. Yashwant Nikam, senior inspector of Swargate police station, told TOI, “Oswal suffered injuries to his back, chest and hands in the assault.”“Oswal runs a battery shop in Market Yard and resides about 2 km away in Salisbury Park. He left his shop to visit another shop and collect cash. He was carrying two similar bags. The cash, however, was kept in one of the bags,” said the officer.“The suspects had been following him since he left his shop. The dealer hung the two bags on the front hook of his scooter and was riding towards his home,” he said.Nikam said, “The suspects intercepted Oswal about 20 meters from his bungalow and snatched a bag. However, they picked up the wrong bag that had no cash. When they realised that the bag was empty, they again charged at Oswal carrying a billhook and tried to snatch the other bag with cash,” Nikam said.“At this time, a young woman from a nearby bungalow heard Oswal’s screams. She rushed and pulled Oswal inside the bungalow along with his bag and shut the door instantly from inside,” Nikam said.“By the time she intervened, the trio had attempted to snatch the bag with cash and assaulted Oswal with the billhook. Her intervention, however, prevented any further injuries to Oswal and the robbery,” Nikam said.Oswal was subsequently taken to a hospital in Salisbury Park, where he is undergoing treatment. “Doctors told us that he was out of danger,” Nikam said.The police have obtained CCTV footage from the spot and started tracing the motorcycle, which did not have a rear registration plate. However, Nikam said the police found that the suspects had to flee empty-handed on their motorcycle towards Market Yard and subsequently towards Bibvewadi.
