Mumbai: A 44-year-old BEST Bus conductor, Ashok Dagale, was allegedly attacked by an individual while on duty at Dharavi’s Pila Bungalow bus stop on Thursday night.
According to the police, a BEST bus (MH 01 AP 0324) traveling from Pydhonie to the Vikhroli Bus Depot was involved in the incident. At the Pila Bungalow stop, a man, estimated to be between 20 and 22 years old, boarded the bus and attempted to snatch a cash bag from Dagale, who was carrying it over his shoulder. When Dagale resisted, the assailant attacked him with a sharp object, inflicting injuries to his neck, shoulder, and waist. As Dagale screamed for help, the assailant grabbed his phone and fled.
Later that night, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed with the police against the unknown attacker. Dagale was rushed to Sion Hospital, where he was admitted to the ICU due to the severity of his injuries.
The Dharavi police launched an urgent investigation following the attack. Upon arriving at the crime scene, officers found no CCTV cameras or witnesses to provide leads. However, using their intelligence network, they quickly identified a suspect, Shahbaz Khan, after receiving a tip within the hour. A manhunt was initiated, with police combing through every corner of the area in Dharavi police’s jurisdiction. Khan was spotted in the Kavle Chawl area, leading to his apprehension within four hours of the incident.
When Khan was arrested, the police found Dagale’s mobile phone and the weapon used in the attack—a knife—both of which were seized as evidence.
BEST Kamgar Sena President Suhas Samant expressed his outrage over the attack, condemning the incident and criticizing the government's failure to control criminal activities. He voiced his frustration with the state's Home Department, stating that the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister seem more focused on winning elections than addressing the concerns of Maharashtra's citizens. The BEST Kamgar Sena is advocating for stronger protections for workers and greater accountability from the government. As Dagale continues his treatment, the union and the public are awaiting further action from authorities to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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