Autorickshaw driver attacked in broad daylight in Pune

During the attack, he lost balance and fell off the bridge onto the road below, sustaining severe injuries.According to police, Kale was attacked by Bapu Bhosale, Ganesh More and Ganesh Dharpale over an old dispute related to picking up passengers.Preliminary investigations revealed that Kale had a dispute with the accused two to three years ago over ferrying passengers.

A 30-year-old autorickshaw driver was critically injured after being attacked with a machete in broad daylight and falling off a bridge on the Katraj-Narhe road in Pune city, police said on Tuesday.

Three persons have been arrested in the case.

A video of the incident, which took place on a bridge above the Rajmata underground passage at around 10.15 am on Monday, went viral.

It showed the assailants repeatedly attacking the victim, identified as Suraj Manik Kale. During the attack, he lost balance and fell off the bridge onto the road below, sustaining severe injuries.

According to police, Kale was attacked by Bapu Bhosale, Ganesh More and Ganesh Dharpale over an old dispute related to picking up passengers.

''Preliminary investigations revealed that Kale had a dispute with the accused two to three years ago over ferrying passengers. The accused were holding a grudge against him since then,'' a police official said.

The fall from the bridge possibly saved him from further assault, the official said.

Kale was rushed to a nearby hospital where he is undergoing treatment. His condition is stated to be stable.

Police later arrested all three accused and registered a case against them under relevant sections of BNS. Further investigation is underway.