Pune Cops Accused of Assault, Casteist Remarks

Three women in Pune have accused Kothrud police of physical assault and casteist remarks during a probe into a missing woman from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar who briefly stayed at their rented accommodation. The allegations, which include claims of warrantless searches and derogatory comments with sexual overtones, have sparked outrage, prompting demands for action from political parties like the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and NCP (SP).

On Friday, personnel from Kothrud and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar police stations allegedly barged into the women’s home while investigating the missing person’s case. Activists claim the police, including a female officer, assaulted the women, made casteist remarks, and detained them for hours without justification. The women later approached Kothrud police station, seeking charges under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, but their complaint was not registered.

NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, accompanying the women and activists, met Joint Commissioner of Police Ranjan Kumar Sharma on Sunday night, demanding accountability. “The police conducted an inquiry without a warrant and used casteist slurs. This negligence must be addressed,” Pawar told the media, emphasizing the gravity of both the missing woman’s case and the alleged misconduct.

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Pune police, however, have dismissed the accusations. A Kothrud police station letter stated, “Preliminary investigations show the allegations are unsubstantiated, and no case under the Atrocities Act can be established.” The denial has fueled further criticism, with activists accusing the police of shielding their personnel.

The controversy has intensified calls for stricter oversight of police conduct, especially in sensitive investigations, as political leaders and activists rally for justice for the women and the missing person’s case.

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