’Details of damaged vehicles goofed up’

'Details of damaged vehicles goofed up'

Like in the case of many innocent citizens whose vehicles get damaged in mob violence, residents of Balajinagar have also been making frequent rounds of the police station to ensure their vehicle details and the extent of damage suffered by these are mentioned correctly in the panchanama.

Smashed: One of the cars damaged in Friday's rioting. Pic/Pravin Aher

After the group clash and rioting in the area that left one person dead and many cars damaged, five to six vehicle owners have claimed that there is some or the other mistake in the police panchanama. They have been frantically approaching the Sahakarnagar police station to rectify this as a delay in doing so might jeopardise their insurance claims.

A simmering group rivalry had resulted in the murder of a person and had sparked mob violence in which 52 vehicles were damaged in the Gulmohar Park area in Balajinagar on the Pune-Satara Road. The slain person was identified as Biju alias Pramod Baban Navghane. Rivalry between Navghane and a person called Datta Mane had reared its head at the time of Navaratra.

Mane, who allegedly heads the rival group, had threatened Navghane and a few others over money collection for Navratra Utsav. Navghane and his friends had lodged a police complaint, leading to the arrest of four members of the Mane group. This had irked Mane, who allegedly took revenge against Navghane on Friday.
Following the bloody clash, the police arrested Datta Mane, Somnath Mane and Swapnil alias Chocolate and Tabrej Sutar.

The four were produced in court and remanded in police custody till October 26. "Efforts to nab the others are on," said Assistant Commissioner of Police Abhaykumar Yevle. "After learning Navghane was attacked, his friends went to the area around Rajani corner, where Mane and his friends stayed, and damaged several vehicles there." Sunil Deshmukh, whose car was damaged, said the rioters broke three windows and smashed a door with iron rods.

Deshmukh said he had to make several rounds of the police station to get a copy of the panchanama. He said he was worried when he found the vehicle number and the extent of damage incorrectly mentioned. Reacting to the concern raised by vehicle owners over incorrect details in the panchnama, Yevle said, "We will mention the extent of damage and vehicle details when we record their detailed statements. Vehicle owners need not worry as the Panchanama will only have their vehicle number and damage done."