2024 proved to be a year of crimes that shocked the whole of Pune, from an underage driver killing two with his speeding Porsche to a man putting a lock with nails to the genitals of his wife.
While the Pune Police had to face a lot of wrath for the rising violence and worsening law and order situation in the city, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar outlined the force’s resolutions for 2024, focusing on reducing violent crimes, enhancing surveillance, and improving city infrastructure.
“Our top priority will be controlling murder and attempt-to-murder cases. Compared to the last two years, murder cases have decreased by 10% (2022: 102, 2023: 105, 2024: 91). This year, we aim to reduce the number below 75,” said Kumar.
Discussing gang activities, Kumar emphasised vigilance on social media. “Our dedicated team monitors posts and reels. Any glorification of criminal activities will result in strict action. Maintaining law and order and communal harmony is our priority,” he said.
Kumar also revealed plans for improving safety and infrastructure. “We’ve proposed Rs85 crore to enhance surveillance across 22 ghats in Pune with CCTV cameras, lights, and panic buttons,” he stated, emphasising women’s safety is critical for Pune Police, and the force is working with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to repair streetlights.
On traffic decongestion, Kumar said, “We have identified 32 congested points in the city. PMC and PMRDA have been notified to complete pending infrastructure work by Feb 28. Additionally, 2,800 new CCTV cameras integrated with an Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) will be installed soon, transforming traffic signals to an automated, international standard system.”
He also highlighted the surveillance of MCOCA and MPDA cases. “Out of 740 MPDA cases, 180 offenders have been detained, and 540 MCOCA cases are under surveillance,” Kumar added.
The Commissioner reiterated the commitment to making Pune safer and more efficient in the coming year.
Tomorrow it will be the 6 month anniversary of the deadly& scandalous #Pune #Porsche car accident. While @AjitPawarSpeaks has given MLA ticket to @suniltingre who is brazenly campaigning, youngsters gathered at the spot to pay homage to victims. Tingre must lose his deposit pic.twitter.com/uvnpvY79qV
— @ Honest, Common Citizen of India Vinita Deshmukh (@VinitaDeshmukh) November 17, 2024
Lets have a look at the crime scene of the city in 2024:
Sharad Mohol murder
Gangster Sharad Mohol was shot dead by members of his own gang near his house in Sutardara in the Kothrud area on January 5. He died hours later in a hospital from bullet wounds in the chest and shoulder. Mohol had several cases including those of murder and dacoity registered against him. He was an accused in the case related to the murder of suspected Indian Mujahideen operative Mohammad Qateel Siddiqui inside the Yerawada jail here, but was acquitted.
4000 Crore Drug Bust
In February, a total of ₹4000 crore worth of drugs were seized by the Pune crime branch team from crore in several raids conducted at a chemical manufacturing factory in Daund taluka, two godowns in Pune’s Vishrantwadi and some shops in South Extension in New Delhi.
#FPJCartoon by @satishacharya |
In the Pune Porsche accident case, Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said earlier today that they are investigating the statement of the accused minor’s family driver.
“Effort was made to frame the driver during that period… It is true that at… pic.twitter.com/yqtr4zBNMv
— Free Press Journal (@fpjindia) May 24, 2024
Porsche accident
The Porsche, allegedly driven by the teenager, who was drunk at the time, killed two motorbike-borne software engineers in the Kalyani Nagar area of the city in the early hours of Sunday (May 19). The accident led to a huge uproar in the city, and with the accused getting bail soon, it rocked national political circles.
As per the controversial bail order passed by the Juvenile Justice Board hours after the incident on Sunday, the teenager’s grandfather had “given an assurance that he will keep the Child-in-Conflict with Law (CCL) away from any bad company and he will concentrate on his studies or any vocational course which is useful for his career.”
“The CCL will write an essay of 300 words on the topic of road accidents and their solutions,” the order said, eliciting much acerbic commentary on social media.
Bopdev ghat gang rape
Three gang-raped a girl at Bopdev Ghat area on October 4. The accused also threatened and robbed gold chain and gold ring of the survivor.
The survivor is 21-year-old event management student from Gujarat, who along with her friend, 22, a CA student from north Maharashtra, had visited the popular spot in the outskirts of the city at around 11 in the night.
शरद पवार आणि सुप्रिया सुळे यांनी बोपदेव घाटातील घटनास्थळाची पाहणी केली… पाच दिवसांपूर्वी या ठिकाणी एका तरुणीवर सामूहिक बलात्कार झाला होता. pic.twitter.com/0aMn4PDuuj
— Rahul Kulkarni (@RahulAsks) October 8, 2024
Man putting lock on genitals of his wife
In May, the Pimpri-Chinchwad police arrested a 30-year-old security guard for allegedly cutting two holes on her wife’s genitals and attach a padlock on her private parts. According to the police, the incident that took place at their Wakad residence at 10 pm on May 11. The accused’s 28-year-old wife, who filed the complaint, underwent surgery at a private hospital.
As per the complainant, the accused allegedly physically abused her and tied her with dupatta before cutting two holes on her private parts with a kitchen knife and put a lock on her genital area as he was suspicious of his wife’s character.
Andekar murder
In September, former Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) corporator Vanraj Surayakant Andekar, affiliated with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, was shot dead in the Nana Peth area. Hours after the murder, police arrested Andekar’s sister Sanjeevani Komkar and his brother-in-law Jayant Komkar.
Rape and murder of two minor sisters
In December, a 54-year-old man was arrested in Pune for allegedly sexually assaulting and killing two minor sisters, aged 8 and 9. Accused Ajay Das, who hails from West Bengal and worked as a cook in a small eatery under the jurisdiction of Rajgurunagar police station, allegedly committed the crime on Wednesday. Police said Das allegedly sexually assaulted the younger child first. When the elder sister went looking for her, he targeted her as well. Das also killed both sisters.
