Pune Firing: Shocking Incident in Hadapsar Leaves One Injured

A startling incident occurred in the Hadapsar area of Pune on Wednesday night, where a youth was injured after a firearm was discharged in what was described as a moment of "fun." The incident has raised serious concerns over rising lawlessness and irresponsible behavior involving illegal firearms. According to police reports, the firing took place around 8:15 PM near Canal Road in Satavwadi. Sumit Khawale, the maternal uncle of the injured youth and reportedly associated with the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena, fired a shot from a locally made illegal firearm (known as a katta) in a reckless act of amusement. The bullet, however, struck his nephew in the shoulder.

The victim has been identified as 20-year-old Vaibhav Shravan Gawli, a resident of Keshavnagar in Mundhwa, who works as a delivery boy. The incident occurred while Vaibhav was on his way to attend a birthday party, riding on a bike with Khawale and a group of friends. Following the shooting, Vaibhav was initially taken to a private hospital for treatment. However, due to the severity of his injuries, he was transferred to Sassoon General Hospital. Upon notification by the hospital, the Mundhwa police initiated an investigation.

A case of misdemeanor has been registered against Sumit Khawale, and further inquiries are ongoing. Authorities are examining the source of the illegal firearm and whether there are links to previous similar incidents. This is not the first time individuals connected to the Shinde group have been implicated in firearm-related cases. In a previous incident, youth leader Nilesh Ghare reportedly staged a fake firing incident. Police investigations later revealed that the firing was carried out by acquaintances of Ghare.

The rise in such incidents has heightened public anxiety in Pune. Many residents have voiced concerns over the apparent misuse of power and the growing trend of political affiliates, or their family members, engaging in dangerous and unlawful behavior. Police officials have assured strict action and are calling for greater accountability among youth involved in political groups.