A 32-year-old female morning walker was slashed with a sharp object during a failed robbery attempt at Marine Drive early morning on Friday. The accused fled the scene with his accomplice on a motorcycle after the victim raised an alarm and resisted the robbery. She has sustained minor cuts on arms and is recuperating at the Bombay Hospital.
Mehar Mohammed Lamberaj, a resident of Tardeo, had left her home around 4 am and walked to Marine Drive when she was targeted. “She was heading in south-bound direction towards NCPA and had plugged in her headphones to listen to music. Opposite Air India junction around 5.45 am, the accused trailed her and parked the bike on the same side of the road when one of them got down. He walked closer to the victim from behind and put his hand inside her pocket to snatch her cellphone. She, however, put up a fight and raised an alarm. He then removed a sharp object, suspected to be a blade and began
slashing at her. He still failed to grab the cellphone and ran towards his accomplice when the two sped away on a red bike,” said senior R. Sapule of Marine Drive police station.
Passersby then rushed to her aid and took her to Bombay Hospital. The police also learnt about the incident a few hours later. According to the victim and eyewitnesses, the assailant had not covered his face while his accomplice had worn a helmet. The cellphone that the accused tried to snatch was worth `6,000. Ms Lamberaj works as a training manager at a private firm and is yet to give a detailed statement to the police.
“We are checking for CCTV cameras along the road that might have captured the faces of the accused. Other history sheeters are also being rounded up for questioning,” Mr Sapule added.