Hadapsar residents crave for police station

PUNE, June 8: With four dacoity deaths taking place in Mundhawa and Hadapsar areas within a short span of two-and-a-half months, the thrust ...

PUNE, June 8: With four dacoity deaths taking place in Mundhawa and Hadapsar areas within a short span of two-and-a-half months, the thrust is once again on setting up a new police station at Hadapsar to ensure the safety of the infested areas.

While top police officials admit that formation of the new police station would be the most important step towards augmenting the security in the area, the residents think it is the only way to ensure their safety.Hadapsar and Mundhawa areas, from where two dacoities were reported since mid-March, are under the jurisdiction of the Wanowrie police station.

The Wanowrie police station which covers a 64 sq km jurisdiction with a population of over 5.35 lakh, has a meagre 134 personnel. According to the police records, as many as 612 cognisable cases were reported from the area in 1993, 542 in 1994, 547 in 1995, 518 in 1996 and 623 in 1997. A total of 193 cognisable cases have been reported from the areas under the Wanowrie police during this year of which 123 have been solved.

In a bid to improve the condition, the Pune police had forwarded the proposal of setting up a new police station at Hadapsar about eight years back. The proposal was okayed by the State Government last year but the new police station is yet to be set up.