AMBERNATH: A dispute over an online parcel delivery during Lakshmi Pujan allegedly escalated into a series of assaults in Ambernath East, where a delivery boy and his associates allegedly attacked an elderly couple and later assaulted a youth who intervened in the matter. The incident took place at Sharda Apartment on B Cabin Road. CCTV footage of the incident has emerged, and police have registered cross-complaints in connection with the initial altercation.According to the police, Vasant Salunkhe’s son had ordered some items through Amazon. Around 10.30 am on the day of Lakshmi Pujan, a delivery boy arrived at their residence with the parcel.As the family was performing Lakshmi Pujan, Salunkhe requested him to return in the evening or the following day, or cancel the order, as he would not be able to make the payment at that time.However, the delivery boy allegedly got angry and used insulting language against Salunkhe. The argument escalated when the delivery boy allegedly pushed and assaulted the elderly man and his wife, leaving them injured.Recounting the incident, Vasant Salunkhe said, “I told the delivery boy that I could not accept the parcel at that time because Lakshmi Pujan was underway and asked him to return in the evening or the next day. As he was entering the lift, he allegedly remarked, ‘If you could not afford it, why did you order it?’ I questioned him about his language, following which he pushed me to the ground and assaulted me. I sustained injuries, particularly around my eye. In retaliation, I also assaulted him.”Initially, both parties approached the police, following which the police registered cross non-cognisable offences against them.Salunkhe claimed that police officials subsequently intervened and both sides were asked not to pursue further action.However, the matter allegedly took another turn when the delivery boy, holding a grudge against the family, arrived the following day with seven to eight friends in two to three vehicles and assaulted a youth, a friend of Salunkhe’s son, who had intervened in the dispute.The youth sustained serious injuries to his eye and jaw.“The youth had only come forward to mediate in the matter, but he was attacked by the delivery boy and his associates. This is unacceptable. I have approached the police seeking strict action against those involved,” Salunkhe said.Following the complaint, Shivajinagar police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 189(2) and 118(1). Police are conducting a detailed investigation and are also examining whether the delivery boy was involved in similar incidents in the past.
