A couple selling vegetables near Pepsi Ground in Borivli West was brutally assaulted by two men over a stall spot. The accused, known local offenders, allegedly wanted to replace the couple with another vendor. One accused has been arrested, while the main attackers are absconding. Police have launched a manhunt.
Accused Akshay Patil (in white) and Sagar patil (in brown) ransack vendors
The Borivli police have launched a manhunt for two persons who allegedly assaulted a vegetable vendor couple from Gorai near the Pepsi Ground in Borivli West on Tuesday morning. According to the police, the two absconding accused, identified as Akshay Patil and Sagar Patil, are local residents with multiple serious cases registered against them.
Victims Rechal and Victor Pereira have been selling vegetables near the Pepsi Ground for several years. As per the complaint, the accused were allegedly trying to forcibly place another vendor at the spot where the couple regularly set up their stall. When the couple resisted, the accused brutally assaulted Victor, leaving him with injuries to his head, legs, and back.
Following the assault, Victor was rushed to Shatabdi Hospital, where he received first aid treatment, and the couple later approached the Borivli police station to register a complaint. Following the complaint, police recorded their statements and initiated action.
Victor and Rachel. PICS/SAMIULLAH KHAN
Rechal said, “We are residents of Gorai and earn our livelihood through farming. I have been setting up a stall here with my husband for the past four years. I have no opposition to anyone’s business. Every week, '250 is collected from us, and on Sundays, an extra '50 is charged. This amount is taken not just from me but from every vendor.”
She added, “I have been selling at this particular spot, but (Akshay) Patil wanted to place someone else there. He had been threatening us since Monday. When we refused to vacate, he came this morning and attacked my husband. He picked up a vegetable crate and threw it, then used the same crate and weights to hit my husband. He was beaten so badly that he started bleeding from his hand and sustained injuries on his legs and body.”
“They wanted to replace us with a flower vendor. Tuesday morning, the flower seller came and tried to forcibly set up his stall at our spot. When I protested, he called Patil, who then arrived here and started destroying our stall. He threw away all the vegetables and attacked me with a crate. I demand the police take the strictest action against the accused,” said Victor.
James D'Mello, brother of Rechal, said, “I was on my way to work when I saw the video. I was shocked. Are we living in India or some lawless land? Who beats someone so brutally like this? We are local villagers from Gorai. Our livelihood depends on farming and selling our produce. I request the government to punish such criminals severely so that no one dares to attack any local or innocent person again.”
Senior Inspector Maloji Shinde of Borivli police station said that an FIR has been filed against the accused duo — Akshay and Sagar — while the flower vendor has been placed under arrest.
“We have registered a case under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), taking serious note of the incident, which appears to be part of an ongoing pattern of intimidation,” said SI Shinde.
“The flower vendor involved has been arrested, while the Patil brothers are currently absconding. A dedicated police team has been formed to trace and arrest them,” he added.
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