Pune Gang Attack: Nine Criminals Chase, Shoot Rival in Midnight Violence
In a shocking incident of criminal violence, a gang of nine men, most with prior police records from a settlement near Dias Plot, chased and fired at an old rival in Pune's Gangadham Chowk area around midnight on Friday. The victim, identified as 22-year-old Moses Shekhapure from Kondhwa, suffered a bullet injury to his back while riding pillion on a motorcycle driven by his friend, Nikhil Lagade.
Details of the Midnight Attack
The attack occurred as Shekhapure and Lagade were returning home to Kondhwa after watching Shiv Jayanti processions in the Market Yard area. Senior inspector Vishwajit Jagtap of the Market Yard police stated that Shekhapure has been admitted to a private hospital in Dhankawdi and has identified all nine assailants who chased and attempted to kill him.
"We found an empty cartridge at the spot, but the victim told us that the suspects fired two rounds," Jagtap explained. "The gang members also carried sharp weapons but were unable to corner the victim's bike as Lagade managed to drive away swiftly." Lagade immediately drove the injured Shekhapure to a private hospital, which subsequently alerted the police.
Police Investigation and Arrests
Deputy commissioner of police (Zone II) Milind Mohite confirmed that police teams arrested five of the suspects by Saturday evening. The arrested individuals include:
- Balaji Umap (22) and Sahil Chavan (20), both residents of Gultekdi
- Raju Umap (55) and Shubham Dilip Pawar (20) of Sahakarnagar
- Anand Umap (22) of Wadgaon Budruk on Sinhagad Road
Authorities are actively searching for the remaining four suspects in connection with the incident. The Market Yard police have registered a case of attempt to murder along with provisions of the Arms Act against all nine men.
Background of Criminal Rivalry
Assistant commissioner of police Rahul Aware revealed that in his initial statement, Shekhapure told investigators about a quarrel with the leader of a criminal gang operating around the Market Yard area during last year's Navratra festival. "The gang members had been after him since then to settle the score," Aware stated.
This midnight attack comes barely two weeks after four minors, who are also known to the nine men involved in the latest incident, fired two rounds in the air at Dias Plot to spread panic and threaten people. Those four minors are currently lodged in an observation home.
Sequence of Events
According to police accounts, the gang of nine spotted Shekhapure riding pillion on Lagade's motorcycle near Market Yard around 11:30 PM on Friday and immediately began chasing them. "Shekhapure's brother, Sagar (29), and his friend were trailing them on another motorcycle," Jagtap detailed. "Before Sagar and his friend could react, the suspects called out to Shekhapure and abused him. At that moment, Lagade increased the speed of the motorcycle, prompting the suspects—riding triple-seat on three motorcycles—to chase them aggressively."
Sagar later lodged a formal complaint with the Market Yard police on Saturday afternoon, initiating the official investigation into this brazen act of violence that has shaken the local community.
