Pune: Despite Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar’s earlier statement denying the existence of a “koyta gang” in the city, the unsettling trend of violent attacks linked to such gangs persists, with videos of these incidents going viral on social media, causing alarm among residents.
A recent video from Bibwewadi has gained widespread attention. The footage, which shows an attack with a “koyta” (a sharp weapon), was recorded on April 17 but began circulating online recently. In the video, a confrontation between two groups escalates when one member grabs a koyta and strikes a man from the opposing group. As the victim attempts to escape, he loses his footing and falls, while the attacker continues to swing the weapon. Another man intervenes, grabbing the koyta and hitting the attacker. A third individual then throws a flat stone into the chaos, and the two groups exchange stones before fleeing.
Following the incident, Bibwewadi Police arrested Suraj Bhise, Sumit Bhise, Aditya Pawar, and Satish Pawar, all of whom have criminal records. Given their history, the court denied them bail, and the police are continuing their investigation to determine the motive behind the attack.
The viral video has prompted NCP-SP MLA Rohit Pawar to call for immediate action from state authorities. On social media, Pawar urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who also serves as Pune’s Guardian Minister, to address the growing threat. “Despite the government denying the existence of the koyta gang, the terror it causes is real. The situation in Pune is worsening, and urgent attention is needed,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
