PUNE: A 65-year-old retired software engineer from Kothrud sustained multiple fractures on his ribs and shoulder after two men pushed him into a nullah from an overbridge near Mrutyunjayeshwar temple off Karve road and robbed his two gold chains, totally worth Rs1.5 lakh, around 2.45pm on Tuesday.
While the duo immediately fled, passersby pulled the victim, Uday Pendse, out of the nullah, police said.
"Pendse was smoking a cigarette on the overbridge when he was pushed into the nullah. He sustained internal injuries and was moved to a private hospital," said senior inspector Rajendra Sahane of the Alankar police on Wednesday.
Based on the description provided by witnesses, the police detained three men for questioning.
Pendse's wife, Snehal, told TOI over the phone on Wednesday, "My husband's condition is stable, but he has received multiple fractures on his ribs and shoulder. The doctors treating him will soon perform a surgery. Witnesses told me that as my husband fell into the nullah, the robbers jumped in and snatched his ornaments."
Sahane said, "Pendse retired from a software firm in Pune. He smokes a cigarette once every three hours. He visits the nullah overbridge opposite his residence daily and stands in a corner for a smoke. On Tuesday afternoon, he was smoking as usual when the two men pushed him into the 6-foot-deep nullah."
Sub-inspector Suryakant Saptale said, "Pendse was unconscious after falling into the nullah. A police team analysed CCTV cameras at the entry and exit points of the nullah."
