Grant Road man runs amok with knife; kills 3, injures 2

The D B Marg police have arrested the accused and registered a case of murder. According to the police, Gala was incensed with his neighbour for inciting his wife, Aruna, to move away.

Mumbai: A 54-year-old man, Chetan Ratanshi Gala, went on killing spree on Friday afternoon, stunning his neighbours in Parvati Mansion, at Dadasaheb Bhadkamkar Marg, Grant Road East. He stabbed five of them with a kitchen knife, three of whom succumbed to the injuries. A woman who has suffered grave injuries is being treated at the Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital, Girgaum, while a man who got minor injuries is being treated at B Y L Nair Hospital.

Police said, residents retaliated with cricket bats and stumps, following which Gala fled the scene and locked himself up in his house. He is married with a son, 25, and three daughters, two of whom are in their teens and one married. The family moved out two months ago. (Satish Bate/HT PHOTO)

The D B Marg police have arrested the accused and registered a case of murder. According to the police, Gala was incensed with his neighbour for inciting his wife, Aruna, to move away.

The residential society, built 70 years ago, has flats opening onto a common veranda. As Gala attacked people around him, unprovoked, neighbours rushed to restrain him. A video of the incident is being shared on social media.

Police said, residents retaliated with cricket bats and stumps, following which Gala fled the scene and locked himself up in his house. He is married with a son, 25, and three daughters, two of whom are in their teens and one married. The family moved out two months ago.

The estranged family members live three buildings away, at Gala’s father’s house. Gala, an introvert, hardly interacted with anyone in the society.

“We received a call around 3.30 pm about a man stabbing his neighbours. By the time we reached the spot he had locked himself in his house and refused to emerge,” said Dr Abhinav Deshmukh, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone II. The drama continued for another 20 minutes after which the cops threatened to break down the entrance door of the house. “He then came out and was overpowered and brought to the police station,” said Deshmukh. “He told us that the neighbours were indulging in rumour mongering after the family left him.”

The police said prima facie the accused has said that he was jobless which caused disputes in the family. Investigation has revealed that he bought a knife four days ago, which the family had taken away, after which he bought a new one, allegedly for self-defence.

Jignesh Shah, a neighbour, said, “Chetan came out of the house and attacked his immediate neighbours -- Jayendrabhai Mestry, 72, and his wife Illa Mestry, 70, who were sitting on the veranda. He held Illa responsible for his wife leaving him. He stabbed the two with a large knife repeatedly following which they started bleeding profusely.” That’s when a domestic help Prakash Waghmare, 55, who was sleeping nearby tried to intervene, and almost got stabbed. He managed to save himself holding up a pillow and suffered a minor injury on his stomach.

Hearing the commotion, when Shah’s 10-year-old-son Aarav came down to the second floor where the Gala lives, the latter grabbed him as well, but let go immediately when others started screaming.

First floor residents -- Snehal Brahmbhatt, 42, and her daughter Jeniel, 18 -- were not as fortunate.

Jeniel and the accused’s daughter study in the same college, while Aruna and Snehal are good friends. The mother and daughter ran up to intervene, when Gala knifed both – fatally injuring Jeniel while Snehal escaped with a minor injury. “Chetan uncle stabbed my sister in the neck and my mother in the stomach,” said Devanshi, Jeniel’s younger sibling. Two months ago, in the middle of an argument, he had threatened his wife saying he would kill everyone if she did not return, recalled Devanshi.

Rajesh Mohite, a neighbour and a social worker, recounted, “After being stabbed Snehal almost rolled down the staircase, grievously injured, but a neighbour came to her aid.”

The injured were immediately rushed to B Y L Nair and Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital. The Mestrys and Jeniel were declared dead on arrival. Snehal is being treated at Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital and is critical. Waghmare is being treated at B Y L Nair Hospital, said the police.

According to police, Gala used run a lingerie shop in Bhuleshwar, but has given his property on rent. His son Deepen works in a small shop in Bhuleshwar area. The family moved into the building 15 years ago.

The accused will be produced in the Girgaon Metropolitan Magistrate court on Saturday.