Pune: Panic gripped the Ramtekdi area of Hadapsar in the early hours of Tuesday, May 13, after a group of youths unlawfully assembled and vandalised several vehicles by pelting stones. The incident, which occurred around 1 a.m. in the Swami Vivekananda Nagar locality, has led to a formal complaint being registered at the Wanawadi Police Station.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the complaint was filed by Rakesh Shrinivas Salvi (38), a local resident. Police have booked six individuals in connection with the case — one 19-year-old youth and five minors.
As per the FIR, the accused gang went on a rampage, damaging the windows of Salvi’s four-wheeler and targeting vehicles belonging to four other residents. The group also threw stones across the neighbourhood while shouting threats and intimidating the locals.
Eyewitnesses and the complainant reported that the accused issued verbal threats, saying, “We are the bosses around here. No one should mess with us. If anyone comes in our way, we’ll eliminate them.”
Acting on the complaint, the Wanawadi police promptly launched an investigation and detained two of the minors involved.
Police sources have expressed concern over the rising trend of minors engaging in gang-like behaviour, mimicking local gangsters and participating in acts of intimidation, vandalism, and public nuisance. Such incidents of “Bhaigiri” (gangster-style bravado) have seen an uptick across the city, posing serious challenges for law enforcement agencies.
Authorities have assured that strict action will be taken against all those found guilty, and measures will be implemented to curb the involvement of juveniles in criminal activities.
