Police alert, three criminals arrested on Mumbai-Pune highway
Mumbai: Police officers from the Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Commissionerate (PCPC) were shot at in a thrilling, film-esque scene at a toll plaza on the old Mumbai-Pune Highway on Thursday morning. Despite the Crime Branch officers being fired upon, no one was injured in the clash due to the officers’ presence of mind. The city has seen a rise in thefts and car thefts, and all Crime Branch units and teams are on high alert to crack down on them. These teams are conducting operations and investigations under the direction of Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Commissioner Vinay Kumar Choubey. While investigating these crimes, a police team pursued three notorious history-sheeters and intercepted them at Somatane Phata near Talegaon Dabhade town.
Crime Branch Unit 2 conducted the operation. They arrested Sunny Singh Papa Singh Dudhani (24, Hadapsar), Jal Singh Rajput Singh Dudhani (32, Hadapsar), and Manish Babulal Kushwah (28, Madhya Pradesh). A new case has been registered against them at the Talegaon Dabhade police station under Section 109 of the Indian Penal Code (attempt to murder) and relevant sections of the Indian Arms Act, 1959. The incident occurred at the always busy Somatane Phata toll plaza area. Despite it being nighttime, the toll plaza is packed with vehicles heading towards Pune and Mumbai. Amid this, gunfire erupted, creating chaos and spreading panic in the Talegaon Dabhade and Maval tehsils of Pune. Pimpri-Chinchwad police held a press conference on Thursday evening to announce the arrests and assault.
Speaking at a press conference, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Dr. Shivaji Pawar said, “At 5:30 AM on Thursday, Senior Police Inspector Arvind Pawar, in-charge of Crime Branch Unit 2, received confidential information that suspects in a recent theft case registered at the Ravet police station were heading towards Talegaon Dabhade via the Old Mumbai-Pune Highway. We knew they would be using a Maruti Suzuki Celerio with registration number MH 14 JE 2628. We determined it was the same vehicle stolen from the Hinjawadi area a few months ago.”
Police further stated that two teams from Crime Branch Unit 2 were formed. One waited at the Central Square on Dehu Road, while the other waited near Somatane Phata. As soon as the vehicle passed Central Square, police alerted the second team, and the accused were stopped at the Somatane Toll Plaza.
DCP Dr. Pawar said, “As soon as a gray Celerio car appeared, the police signaled it to stop. The accused were inside the car, Kushwah sitting in the back seat, while the other two were sitting in the front. Kushwah fired a shot from a country-made pistol with the intention of killing Senior Police Inspector Arvind Pawar and his team. Police Constable Bhausaheb Rathod showed presence of mind and tried to snatch the pistol from the accused. In the scuffle, the bullet was fired, but it passed through the roof of the car.
Where is the law and order in the country?
Sunny Singh Dudhani has 70 criminal cases registered against him across Maharashtra. Jal Singh Dudhani has 50 criminal cases registered against him, while Manish Kushwah is also a dangerous criminal. Two country-made pistols, seven live cartridges, stolen gold and silver jewelry, and sharp weapons worth ₹8.87 lakh were seized from them. The court has granted police custody to the accused, and the police hope to solve more crimes. Their interrogation continues. Through.
Sunny Singh Dudhani has been arrested several times in the past, and this has been reported in the media. Others are also dangerous criminals and are being prosecuted under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act of 1999 (MCOCA). This has raised serious questions about the law and order situation in the country. Police arrest criminals, but courts grant them bail, allowing these criminals to continue committing crimes. People throughout the district have demanded more stringent action.
