27 March,2026 09:29 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya Iyer
The suspect in police custody. Pic/videograb
A 21-year-old man was arrested within 24 hours after he allegedly attempted to attack a 16-year-old girl with a sickle inside her college premises in Mulund on Wednesday morning, police said on Friday.
According to the police, the accused, Ashish Gautam Bansode, and the victim were previously acquainted. On March 25 at around 9 am, Bansode reached the girl's college in Mulund and confronted her.
Police said the accused approached the girl from behind, grabbed her by the neck and questioned her for not speaking to him. He then attempted to assault her with an iron sickle (koyta), allegedly with intent to kill.
A male friend of the victim intervened to protect her during the attack. In the process, he sustained injuries after the sickle struck the back of his neck. His timely intervention is believed to have prevented a more serious assault on the girl.
The accused also allegedly threatened to kill the victim and verbally abused her loudly, creating panic and fear among students and others present on the college premises.
Based on the complaint filed by the minor victim, the Mumbai Police registered an FIR for stalking and attempt to murder under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with provisions of the Arms Act and the Maharashtra Police Act.
The accused was arrested within 24 hours, and the weapon used in the crime was recovered.
Police revealed that Bansode allegedly has prior criminal antecedents, including cases registered at Badlapur police station under the NDPS Act and other offences earlier this year.
The accused is currently in police custody, said an official.
