Pune: Violent Koyta Attack Over Ganpati Utsav Donations in Pimpri Chinchwad, Rickshaw Driver Assaulted

Pimpri Chinchwad, 30th August 2024: Donations for Ganpati Utsav led to a violent “Koyta” attack in Pimpri Chinchwad. A rickshaw driver was assaulted by a group questioning him, “Why are you collecting donations in our area?” The rickshaw driver and his companion were attacked with machetes (Koytas), hockey sticks, and iron rods. This incident occurred on Wednesday, August 28, on Dehu Alandi Road in Chikhali.

Mahesh Pradeep Gunewad (21, resident of Chikhali, originally from Buldhana) complained to the Chikhali Police Station. A case has been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 109 (abetment of an offence), Section 119 (causing hurt or grievous hurt to extort property or constrain to an illegal act), Section 191 (rioting), Section 190 (offence committed by a member of an unlawful assembly in pursuit of a common object), Section 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), Section 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace), and Section 351 (criminal intimidation), along with relevant sections of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act of 2013 and the Arms Act of 1959.

Prajwal Rokade, Manav Rokade, Om Narawade, and Yash Narawade (all residents of Rokade Wasti, Chikhali) have been charged in connection with the case, along with four unidentified individuals.

According to police reports, the complainant, Mahesh, is an auto-rickshaw driver. On Wednesday, he and his companions were in the Rokade Wasti area collecting donations for Ganesh Utsav. At that time, the accused arrived armed with Koytas, Sticks, Hockey Sticks, and Iron Rods. Upon seeing the accused, shopkeepers in the area closed their shops out of fear, creating an atmosphere of terror.

The accused were reportedly angry because Mahesh was driving Sonya Tapkir’s rickshaw. They assaulted Mahesh with kicks and sticks, questioning, “Why are you collecting donations in our area?” They also attempted to kill Mahesh by striking his head with a Koyta. The accused then stole Rs 13,000 from the Ganesh Utsav donations and Rs 4,000 of Mahesh’s own money, totalling Rs 17,000, and continued to beat him. Assistant Police Inspector Kharge is further investigating the matter.