VIDEOS: Spate Of Vehicle Vandalism Continues In Pune; 22 School Vans, Auto-Rickshaws, Four-Wheelers Damaged In Dhankawadi

At least 22 vehicles, including school vans, auto-rickshaws and four-wheelers, were vandalised by three individuals in Pune's Dhankawadi area in the wee hours of Wednesday.

According to the police, at least three individuals came on bikes carrying weapons like stumps, stones, etc., to vandalise windshields of the vehicles and smash the rearview mirrors.

The incident took place at three locations, namely Keshav Complex, Sarasvati Chowk, and Navnath Nagar between 1am and 1:45am, said Rahul Aware, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Zone 2).

Aware said, "As per the initial investigation, three suspects have been recorded in the CCTV camera damaging glass windows of the vehicles with weapons they were carrying. The damaged vehicles included at least 10 auto-rickshaws, three cars, two school vans and some bikes. A dedicated team has been deployed in the search operation of the suspects. Soon they will be arrested."

Meanwhile, this isn't an isolated vandalisation incident that has happened in Pune.

On June 29, Sinhagad Road Police arrested two youngsters and detained four minors for vandalising 20 cars and a glass pane of a garment shop in Hingane Khurd at 2:30am.

On June 10, around 15 vehicles were vandalised in the early hours near Bavanna Chaal at Indira Gandhi Nagar Colony on Sinhagad Road. The vandals broke the bike horns, smashed the rearview mirrors and scratched the seat covers and paint of the vehicles.

On May 18, two youngsters and seven minors were booked for vandalising seven vehicles in the New Padmavati area. A gang of nine, with bamboo sticks and other weapons, came into the area and vandalised the vehicles.

25 vehicles parked in Upper Indiranagar and VIT College Road areas of Bibwewadi were vandalised around 2:30am on February 5.

According to the police, 35 cases of vandalism were reported in 2022, 53 in 2023 and 89 in 2024.