Passenger alert: Gang of robbers on the prowl at wee hours

Pune: If you or your relatives are travelling late night or arrive in Pune during the wee hours, here is a piece of news that you must read. In the last few weeks, there have been many incidents where passengers alighting alone at bus stands have been targeted by a gang of robbers. In some cases, the passengers don’t get an auto and are forced to walk and become prey to robbers.

Such incidents have been reported this year in police station of Bharti Vidyapeeth, three cases registered with Swargate, one in Deccan Gymkhana police station.
One such victim was 27-year-old Doctor Suraj Jadhav, a resident of Chandrabhaga Enclave in Ambegoan Bhudruk who was robbed on Sunday around 2.40am near Trimurti chowk near Katraj. A case has been registered by Jadhav against two unidentified persons with Bharti Vidyapeeth police station. Jadhav who was returning from Nashik to Pune had reached Shivajinagar bus stand around 1.45 am.
Sub-inspector Rajaram Kshirsagar who is investigating the case said, “On Sunday around 1.45 am he reached Pune at Shivajinagar bus stand. He walked a lot as he did not get any auto-rickshaw for his residence. Later he took a six seater auto that left him at Katraj’s Trimurti Chowk, which was again some two kilometers from his house. He was walking in isolated area where there is lesser street light. Two unidentifed person came near him and asked for the time.”
He added, “Later, the duo asked him where he was going and restrained his way forcefully and took his two mobile handsets, thrashed him and took his wallet which total estimated worth of Rs 10,399 and fled on a scooter. Assistant commissioner of police (Crime) Prasad Hasabnis said, “Such incidents are taking place in city. Most incidents do not take place on a daily basis and the spots are also different. tMost of the incidents take place place around 2 am to 4 am. We have laid trap in the fringe areas of city and we are also keeping an eye on autorickshaw drivers.”
In the past similar incidences occured with Kundan Nandkumar Takalkar, a resident of Ambegoan Pathar. A case was registered with Deccan Gymkhana police station on June 15. Takalkar was returning to city from Mumbai and got down near Junna Bazzar area. Two unidentified person threaten him at knife point and stole cash, his mobile handset and cash which totally estimated worth of Rs 50,000