Man who attacked Thackeray kin identified

The "mentally unstable" man who assaulted a distant relative of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray and another student here has been identified and efforts were on to nab him, police said today.

The "mentally unstable" man who assaulted a distant relative of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray and another student here has been identified and efforts were on to nab him, police said on Tuesday.

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Payal Gupte (19), a first year arts student of Mithibai College in suburban Juhu, was attacked with a stick on Sunday evening by the "mentally unstable" man identified only as Bachauli, police said.

Gupte, who was with her friends, was attacked near the college, police said.

Bachauli, a resident of Nehru Nagar slums in suburban Kurla, assaulted a few passersby before turning to the teenager, they said.

According to police, Bachauli hit Gupte on her head and another student on his shoulder before escaping from the scene.

He had been booked in a similar case earlier too. Bachauli's wife left him four years ago due to his illness, they added.