Public insensitivity seems to be at a disturbing high as police complain witnesses simply not coming forward in various recent cases even after Repeated appeals
Public insensitivityu00a0 seems to be at a disturbing high as police complain witnesses simply not coming forward in various recent cases even after Repeated appealsu00a0
Gruesome murders, suicides and attacks have become common in the once-peaceful city, and what is worse is that the police are finding it difficult to collect evidence against suspects as people are not coming forward to help victims or assist investigations.
Incidents like the murder of IBM techie Darshana Tongare in Bavdhan, the firing on the general manager of a logistics company in Pimpri, and now the Jyotsna Bagul murder case show people in the city are becoming insensitive by the day.
The Hinjewadi police are yet to trace Darshana's mobile phone, missing since she was stabbed on August 1.
Vincent Gilbert, general manager of Chetak Logistic Company, was left lying injured on a busy road in Pimpri on August 25, as onlookers just gawped and moved on. Even in the recent Jyotsna Bagul case, eyewitnesses shut their doors and windows after the murder took place and the police started looking for witnesses.
"If citizens don't come forward and help, the suspects will remain at large," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone III) Dnyaneshwar Chavan. "This is even more dangerous a situation than the commission of the offence, since the culprits can go on to commit more crimes if they are not nailed. We need witnesses for any case to stand in a court of law."
He said there had been no progress in the Tongare murder case for lack of response from the public. "We are appealing to people to come forward and assist the police in investigations," said Chavan.
Additional Commissioner of Police (North Region) Sanjay Latkar said, "Two special teams have been formed for investigations into the Tongare murder case. We are yet to identify the suspect in that case."
'Cops the problem'
Advocate Supriya Kothari, founder of the Bhagini helpline for distressed women, said "I believe citizens are more sensitive than the police, but they are not confident of getting any kind protection from police if some affected parties try to harm them," said Kothari. "The police are not enemies of the common man, but they should become more sensitive towards the common man. Then and then only people will get the confidence to approach them and help in investigations."
Kothari alleged that many new changes are announced every now and then by top police officers, but little changes in reality.
"Every time the police commissioner is changed, some new policing schemes are announced," said Kothari. "After Meeran Chadha Borwankar took charge as Pune's new commisioner, hassle-free registration of cases was declared, but little has changed at the ground level."
Amey Jagtap, president of Youth-to-Youth, a city-based organisation, said, "People tend to help victims only in minor incidents, but are seen running away if anything major like a murder happens. I don't think people have become insensitive, only that they have lost faith in the police and judiciary, which fails to provide them protection in any manner."
ADVERTISEMENT
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
