A 52-year-old man was gravely injured after being attacked with sharp weapons during a mobile phone snatching incident in Mulund East on Wednesday morning. The incident took place around 6 am near the bus stop opposite Veer Savarkar Hospital on the Mahatma Phule road near Hanuman Chowk.

The victim, Wilson Albert Barretto, a resident of Gavanpada in Mulund East, works as a housekeeping staffer in Prabhadevi. He leaves for work at around 5.45 am and walks to Mulund railway station to catch the local train. On Wednesday morning, while he was on his way to work, two unidentified men in an auto rickshaw stopped him and tried to snatch his mobile phone. When Barretto resisted, they attacked him with sharp weapons before fleeing towards Gavanpada signal. 

“Two men got out and attempted to snatch his phone. When he resisted, they drew weapons, one wielding a chopper, the other a small knife, and attacked him. He sustained injuries to his face, neck, back, and arms. Overpowered by the assault, he eventually gave up, and the attackers fled with his mobile phone,” said a police officer.

Despite his injuries, Barretto managed to reach Veer Savarkar Hospital across the road, where doctors administered first aid and stitched his wounds. According to the doctors, he required 25 to 30 stitches and was later referred to Sion Hospital for further treatment, where he is currently admitted. Barretto lives with his 75-year-old mother. Police said the attackers are believed to be 20 to 25 years old. According to the description given by Barretto to the police, one of the attackers was of slim build, wearing a half T-shirt and pants, while the other was of heavy build, dressed in a full T-shirt.

An FIR has been registered at Navghar police station in Mulund, under charges of robbery and causing serious injuries, said police. Police said they are scanning CCTV footage from the area and checking auto rickshaws operating near Mulund railway station and adjoining localities. “The search is on to find the attackers. An investigation has been launched,” said Rakesh Ola, DCP Zone VII.

Source