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By:

Rajendra Pandharpure

15 April 2025 at 2:25:54 pm

Policing a Restless City

The Pune police’s crackdown on nightlife and assemblies exposes the uneasy nexus between crime, politics and public security AI generated image Pune: Pune likes to think of itself as Maharashtra’s cultured capital, a city of students, software engineers and retirees. But in the past decade or so, that reputation has taken a beating with the city increasingly turning into a netherworld where criminal gangs operate with growing audacity and where citizens are no longer certain that the state...

Policing a Restless City

The Pune police’s crackdown on nightlife and assemblies exposes the uneasy nexus between crime, politics and public security AI generated image Pune: Pune likes to think of itself as Maharashtra’s cultured capital, a city of students, software engineers and retirees. But in the past decade or so, that reputation has taken a beating with the city increasingly turning into a netherworld where criminal gangs operate with growing audacity and where citizens are no longer certain that the state can guarantee their safety. Faced with mounting public anxiety over deteriorating law and order, the Pune Police have recently imposed two stringent restrictions. Night-time checkpoints now dot the city's roads after 10 p.m. while food stalls, carts and riverside eateries are being ordered to shut early. Simultaneously, authorities have enforced a 14-day prohibition on public assemblies, effective from May 26. The measures have triggered an intense political debate. Crime Wave The immediate backdrop is an unmistakable rise in criminal activity. Across several neighbourhoods, local strongmen known as ‘Bhais’ and ‘Dadas’ continue to wield influence. Their reach extends beyond mere street-level intimidation. Many residents believe these figures enjoy varying degrees of patronage from political parties, creating a perception that law enforcement is either reluctant or unable to act decisively against them. Such perceptions erode public confidence in the police and strengthen the atmosphere of fear. Particularly troubling has been the escalation of gang rivalries. Violent confrontations involving koytas have become alarmingly common. What was once an occasional occurrence has evolved into a recurring feature of the city’s urban life. Attacks now take place in crowded public spaces and during daylight hours, signalling a brazen disregard for authority. The phenomenon has spread to Kothrud, regarded as one of Pune’s quieter and more settled suburbs. The area has found itself drawn into the orbit of gang violence, most notably through the turbulent history of the Andekar gang. The murder of Vanraj Andekar, a former corporator associated with the Nationalist Congress Party, marked a dramatic turning point. Investigators subsequently found that members of his own extended family were allegedly involved in the crime. Retaliatory killings followed as violence spilled onto major roads and public gatherings, while one accused gangster reportedly fled abroad. The rise of the so-called ‘Koyta Gang’ has become emblematic of this trend. To outsiders, the preference for machetes over firearms may appear puzzling. Yet law-enforcement officials argue that such weapons are often used to ensure a killing is completed. Their symbolism is equally important: the koyta serves not merely as a weapon but as an instrument of intimidation, projecting fear in neighbourhoods where gangs seek to establish dominance. Public Nuisance At the same time, the city’s authorities are grappling with a different, though related, challenge. Pune’s burgeoning night-time food culture has transformed several streets and riverside stretches into lively social spaces. But these gathering spots have also generated complaints about drunkenness, disorderly conduct and public nuisance. Residents have increasingly demanded intervention. The police response therefore reflects not only concerns about crime but also an attempt to restore civic order. Whether these measures prove effective remains uncertain. Restricting late-night activity may reduce opportunities for disorder, but it also affects legitimate businesses and social life.

BMC auctioning three land parcels to raise funds, says Aaditya

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

Aaditya

Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Thursday alleged Mumbai’s civic body had decided to auction three land parcels to raise funds and make up for the “loot” of the metropolis by the Eknath Shinde government.


The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, which is being run by an administrator now, has decided to auction the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Mandi (Market), the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Malabar Hill Receiving Station and the Worli Asphalt Plant, Thackeray pointed out.


“The sale of Mumbai is being done by the Eknath Shinde regime to benefit its favourite builders and contractors,” he alleged.


A criminal investigation will be conducted into the matter after the Maha Vikas Aghadi government comes to power, Thackeray added.


“So on one end, they looted the BMC and Mumbai and gave the money to their favourite contractors. Now, by auctioning these iconic and important land parcels, the BMC will be left without both funds and plots,” the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former state minister claimed.


When Shiv Sena started controlling the BMC in 1997, its finances were in deficit but by 2022 his party turned around the fiscal health of the civic body, Thackeray said.


Alleging that the Shinde government wants to drive Kolis and fisherfolk out of Mumbai, he said, “We will oppose this. It has to remain and be made into a fish market, and (should be) in the ownership of the BMC.”


Aaditya puppet for urban naxals: Shelar

Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) Mumbai chief Ashish Shelar has called Uddhav Thackeray’s son and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray as a puppet for urban naxals after former’s comments on the Dharavi Redevelopment project and has also challenged him for a debate.

Ashish Shelar said that the project is a necessity and a priority project, adding that Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and Congressleader Varsha Gaikwad are peddling lies.

Aaditya Thackeray seems to have become the spokesperson of urban Naxals. Without studying the subject (Dharavi) in detail, Aaditya Thackeray is speaking like an ignorant. I have seen that these people have been trying to set a narrative regarding Dharavi and the re-development work,” Ashish Shelar said.

He challenged Aaditya Thackeray and Varsha Gaikwad in a debate on the Dharavi Redevelopment Project.

“Uddhav ji and the people of his party – Aaditya Thackeray and Varsha Gaikwad have started this false narrative regarding Dharavi. I openly challenge Aaditya for a debate. I want to ask him that 70 per cent of the homes in the Dharavi Redevelopment Project will go to Marathi people, Muslims and Dalits. It is their rightful home, so why are they putting roadblocks by creating a false narrative?”

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