Pune: An interior designer (28) from Kondhwa suffered bullet injuries in a case of mistaken identity, after a 16-year-old boy fired at him on Sunday night from close range in the Laxminagar area of Kondhwa. The boy was searching for his rival at the time along with a minor accomplice.Both minors fled after firing at the interior designer, Saurav Trimbake (28). Police have identified the duo but are yet to detain them.Senior inspector Santosh Khetmalas of Kondhwa police said, “The interior designer suffered bullet injuries in his left leg. He has been admitted to a private hospital and is reported to be out of danger.”This is the 15th firing case this year under the jurisdiction of Pune city police. Several incidents of minors getting easy access to illegal firearms have cropped up in recent times. On Sept 1, Swargate police had detained two 17-year-old boys and recovered a country-made pistol and two bullets from them.Khetmalas added, “A local mandal had organised a Dahi Handi celebration at the chowk in Laxminagar. Many people had gathered there to celebrate the festival. Trimbake also went there. He remained at the chowk while people started returning home later.”The officer said, “The two minor boys in the meantime came to the chowk looking for their rival, as Trimbake stood there. He and the two boys did not have any rivalry. The chowk was dark and the two boys spotted Trimbake. One of them fired at him from close range as he stooped, without verifying his identity. The boys mistook Trimbake for the rival and opened fire from an illegal pistol. The bullet brushed against Trimbake’s leg.”Police said there was chaos at the spot after the firing, as people present there ran helter-skelter.“Our teams have identified the two boys. Neither have any past criminal record. We will soon track them down,” said Khetmalas.
