4 enter Juhu heliport, steal barbed wire and assault guards

The porous security at the Juhu aerodrome was once again highlighted when four unknown men broke into the largest heliport in the country on Saturday night. The accused stole concertina coil — a type of barbed wire — and destroyed the electricity supply line of the heliport.

According to sources, the four men had entered from the Nehru Nagar area by breaking the wall surrounding the aerodrome. An FIR has been lodged in Santacruz police station in connection with the incident.

Confirming the incident, Santacruz senior police inspector Shantanu Pawar told The Asian Age that investigation is on into the case. According to police sources, the accused assaulted two security guards at the aerodrome and they have now given their description to the cops. The police is trying to identify them.

According to the sources from the heliport, the four unknown men infiltrated the aerodrome around 11.30 pm on Friday and security guards Sadashiv Bugde and Anil Nalawde, tried to stop them. The quartet was under the influence of alcohol, sources said.

One of Mr Bugde’s relatives who wanted to remain unidentified said that the accused started pelting stones at Bugde and on hearing the commotion, Mr Nalawade arrived at the scene and scolded the intruders. The accused in turn assaulted both of them and tried to snatch their video cameras and walkie-talkies. During the fight, Mr Bugde sustained injuries near his eyes. Later both Mr Bugde and Mr Nalwade and Bugde were rushed to Cooper Hospital, and Mr Bugde received seven stitches.

According to Juhu heliport sources, security has always been a matter of concern as the place does not have CISF security. Security personnel from the Maharashra Security Board are deployed there. According to the sources, such intrusion cases into the aerodrome are not new and as many as 13 similar FIRs have been registered before for the same offence.