A near-fatal sword attack in the dead of night has sent shockwaves through the Juhu Gully area, as a 16-year-old girl narrowly escaped death at the hands of a local goon thanks to quick action by her mother.

The DN Nagar police have arrested the accused Zameer Ibrahim Shaikh, alias Jambu Vastra, 27, a repeat offender having more than 24 cases registered against him.

According to police sources, the horror unfolded around 1 am on Thursday, when the teen and her mother were returning home after fetching water. Suddenly, Shaikh emerged from the darkness, brandishing a large sword, and charged menacingly toward them. In a brave move, the girl took her mother’s phone to record Shaikh’s intimidating behaviour, a decision that nearly cost her life. Infuriated at being filmed, Shaikh allegedly lunged at the girl and swung the sword at her head. However, her mother yanked her away in the nick of time.