Vandalism blitzkrieg in Pune: Over 10 vehicles damaged in third incident in two months
At least 10 vehicles were vandalised after a group of men attacked vehicles in Kharalwadi area of Pimpri on May 16. A similar incident was reported on the night of April 14, Ambedkar Jayanti, from Ambedkarnagar, an area approximately 2km from Kharalwadi. In January, two incidents of vehicle vandalism were reported in a night in Wakad, besides sporadic reports of torched or damaged vehicles.
Three men were booked for vandalising 10-15 vehicles in Thergaon, police officials said, adding that this was the third such incident to take place in the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) limits in two months.
At least 10 vehicles were vandalised after a group of men attacked vehicles in Kharalwadi area of Pimpri on May 16. A similar incident was reported on the night of April 14, Ambedkar Jayanti, from Ambedkarnagar, an area approximately 2km from Kharalwadi. In January, two incidents of vehicle vandalism were reported in a night in Wakad, besides sporadic reports of torched or damaged vehicles.
This incident happened at around Tuesday midnight when the three accused arrived in the area, on a motorbike, and started vandalising cars, two-wheelers and autorickshaws in the colony. The three were identified as Karan Shinde, Chikya Suryavanshi, Navnath Bhankute, according to the police.
When one of the residents tried to stop them from breaking windshield of the vehicles, one of the accused threatened him with a sickle. The accused, then, allegedly proceeded to forcefully steal ₹1,000 from his pockets. The resident was identified as Mahesh Taru, 43. The other residents, however, gathered and caught hold of one of the three accused.
"He is a juvenile (17-years-old). All the three accused were drunk. The arrested has sustained minor aberrations. We took him to a hospital, apprehended him and took him to the court," said police inspector (crime) Sunil Pinjan.
Taru lodged a complaint with the Wakad police. Taru's Toyota Innova was one of the cars which was vandalised. The rear windshield of the car was damaged.
A case under Sections 392 (robbery), 34 (common intention) and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered at the Wakad police station against the three. Assistant police inspector (API) Tanaji Bhogam is investigating the case. The police are on the lookout for the two other accused booked in the case.
Even though various motorbikes and cars could be seen vandalised on the spot, the case only mentions six or seven damaged cars which incurred an estimated loss of ₹10,000- ₹12,000. "We will add more vehicles as we investigate the case further. The one we caught is a resident of the same area," said assistant police inspector (API) SS Gulve, Wakad police station, who was among the officials who visited the spot.
House torched, vehicles vandalised in Kothrud
A house was torched and vehicles of the residents were vandalised by two men in Kothrud. One of the two accused was identified only as Dada Kudale. The police are on the lookout for them.
The incident took place in the early hours of Thursday morning in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) colony of Shastrinagar area of Kothrud. The police have recovered closed circuit television (CCTV) footage of two youngsters setting bottles with inflammable substance on fire and throwing them at the house before attacking the vehicles with sticks. However, no arrests have were made.
The two booked men allegedly had an unresolved issue with the inmates of the house, according to the police complaint. The incident came to light after a woman in the house woke up and found smoke bellowing from the front door.
The complaint in the matter was filed by the woman, Sharda Vasant Kasbe, 55, who lives in the house with her family.
The vandalised vehicles include a Royal Enfield Bullet motorbike owned by Kasbe’s son and three Activa mopeds, two of which belong to the Kasbe household.
A case under Sections 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code was registered against the two men at the Kothrud police station. Assistant police inspector CS Dhotare is investigating the case.