Dacoity cases on rise in Pune

PUNE, JULY 30: Operating in ever increasing brazenness, the dacoits have claimed 11 lives and left 51 injured during the last three month...

PUNE, JULY 30: Operating in ever increasing brazenness, the dacoits have claimed 11 lives and left 51 injured during the last three months and all the police have is a mere gut feeling that at least three gangs of dacoits are operating in Pune city and the rural areas surrounding it.

While the police attribute their failure in curbing the spate of dacoities being witnessed since mid-April to the changing patterns, the residents are expressing their concern over the issue.

A total of 11 dacoities have been recorded since April 17. The number of dacoity deaths, which was restricted to just one per year over the past two years, has reached 11 within the short span of the last three months.

It all started with nine dacoits attacking five labourers at Mahadeonagar, Hadapsar on April 17. While one was killed, four were seriously wounded. The very next day a woman was killed and seven were seriously injured in a dacoity at Walhekarwadi, Chinchwad. A days lapse and dacoits thrashed up nine persons in twoseparate incidents at Indapur and Yavat on April 19.

Many changes have been witnessed in pattern of dacoities during the period compared with the trends observed in the last decade. In most of the previous cases, culprits struck well after midnight. However, all the dacoities recorded this year took place between 10.30 pm and midnight, which can be considered as a pointer toward the brazen manner in which the culprits operated.

The dacoits were found to be using excessive force as the number of dacoity deaths was much higher that during the last many years. Police set up check-posts and searched vehicles to catch dacoits while they were in transit. However, it became difficult to identify dacoits from normal passengers as they did not use conventional weapons like axes and iron rods rather which they would be forced to carry on their persons. Rather, they used easily available weapons such as sticks.

Police also tried to encourage peoples participation by forming village vigilantes. However a largenumber of residents did not respond due to the fear.

Story continues below this ad

Police allegedly used extreme measures such as giving third degree treatment to history-sheeters in a bid to solve dacoity cases. Pinyahari Kale, a resident of Tandulwadi, Baramati died due to third degree treatment by police on June 9. A Sub Inspector shot down a farmer mistaking him for a dacoit at Yavat. However such measures backfired on the police as people waged agitations. Policemen involved in both the incidents were suspended and charged with murder.