Pune: Kothrud Man Hacked with Sickle; Police Suspect Revenge Attack by Ghaywal Gang
Pune, 15th July 2026: A 24-year-old employee of a mobile phone shop was allegedly attacked with a sickle by a group of 8 to 10 men in Pune’s Kothrud area on Tuesday evening, in what police suspect was a revenge attack linked to a complaint he had filed against an alleged criminal gang operated by fugitive gangster Nilesh Ghyawal a few months ago.
The victim, identified as Amit Shinde, was standing outside the mobile shop where he worked around 7 pm when the assailants arrived and repeatedly attacked him with a sickle before fleeing the spot, police said.
According to the police, the attackers are believed to be associates of alleged gangster Nilesh Ghaywal. Preliminary investigations suggest Shinde was targeted because he had earlier lodged a complaint against Ghaywal.
The incident was captured on CCTV cameras installed in the area. Kothrud police have seized the footage and launched a search for the accused.
The attack has once again brought the spotlight on rising gang-related violence in Pune, with questions being raised over the safety of citizens who cooperate with police in criminal investigations.
Police said further investigation is underway. Ghaywal, an alleged gangster wanted in multiple cases, is believed to be operating from abroad, while his brother was arrested by Pune police from Rajasthan earlier this year.
