"We learnt from our counterparts in the neighbouring state that the mobile recharge shop owner bought the handset from a person whose identity he did not know. The buyer is being interrogated to ascertain the whereabouts of the attacker," Auradkar said.
One of the eight special teams, set up to investigate the horrifying incident, is also on the lookout for another person who may have remained outside the state-run Corporation Bank ATM while the assailant was inside the kiosk attacking the victim.
"We are trying to find out if the unknown assailant had an accomplice standing outside the kiosk to ensure nobody entered it to draw cash from the ATM. As the machine was out of order for over a week, customers stopped entering it though it was repaired but no guard was present in the early hours (around 7am) of that day," a police official told IANS.
Meanwhile, 44-year-old Jyothi is recovering at a private hospital from the severe injuries she suffered on her head, face and nose when the assailant attacked her with a machete.
