Nagpur: In a shocking incident, an injured youth was allegedly robbed at knifepoint by three unidentified accused after a road accident near Wadi in the early hours of Friday. Police have registered a case of robbery and launched a search operation to trace the accused.

According to police, complainant Vishal Virendra Kothari (20), a resident of Quetta Colony in Lakadganj, was returning home along with four friends in an Innova Crysta car after having dinner at a Punjabi dhaba located on Amravati Road near Gondkhairi under the limits of Wadi Police Station.

Between 2.30 am and 3 am on May 9, the vehicle reportedly met with an accident after a tyre burst, causing the car to hit the divider. Vishal sustained injuries to both hands and was bleeding following the crash.

Police said one of Vishal’s friends stopped a double-seat motorcycle, a Pulsar bearing registration number MH-49-AW-2259, and requested the two unidentified riders, aged between 20 and 25 years, to help shift the injured youth to a hospital.

The accused allegedly made Vishal sit triple-seat on the motorcycle and took him some distance before stopping the vehicle. They reportedly told him that police personnel were stationed at the upcoming square and that triple-seat riding could attract a challan. On this pretext, they diverted towards New MHADA Colony on Surabardi Road in Wadi.

The accused later claimed that the motorcycle had run out of petrol and called their third accomplice to the spot. After the third accused arrived, all three allegedly threatened the complainant with a knife and forcibly robbed him of Rs 2,500 cash and three gold rings weighing around 15 grams collectively, worth approximately Rs 77,500.

Police further stated that the accused also attempted to snatch the complainant’s gold chain. However, they fled from the spot after Vishal’s friends reached the location.

Based on the complaint lodged by the victim, Sub-Inspector Bhagwat Kalinge of Wadi Police Stationhas registered a case against the three accused under Sections 309(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Police said efforts are underway to identify and arrest the accused, while further investigation is in progress.