Pune police seek information on workers from outside state

The Pune rural police have stepped up vigil following the arrest of 10 Maoist rebels residing within its jurisdiction. On Saturday, it issued notices to over 400 private contractors in Ranjangaon MIDC area, directing them to submit within a week all details, including photographs of their workers hailing from outside the state.

The police warned that cases would be lodged against those contractors who fail to comply with the directive.

The Pune ATS arrested 10 ultras from Pune railway station on Thursday night. These hail from the Maoist-infested Midnapore district of West Bengal. Firearms and Naxal literature were seized from them. They were staying at a chawl in Doksangvi, a village situated about 50 km from Pune city, in Shirur taluka.

“Of the 10 Maoists arrested, Robi Mahato, Sushanto Mahato and Nrippan Mahato had been living here for the last three years. They were working with a private contractor in Ranjangaon MIDC area. The other seven arrived from West Bengal about eight to ten days ago,” the Pune rural police officers claimed.

On Saturday morning, the rural police organised a meeting in Doksangvi and addressed the villagers and contractors. They also inspected the chawl where the Naxals were staying.

The deputy superintendent of police (Pune rural), Shankar Kengar told DNA that instructions have been given to the contractors that they should submit all information about employees hailing from outside the state to the local police station. “We have appealed to the villagers that if any new tenants approach them, the landlord must immediately inform the police,” he added.

From Sunday onwards, the police will make announcements using public address systems in the six villages near Ranjangaon MIDC area concerning the need to furnish information about tenants.

Kengar said Doksangvi villagers told the police that they did not have any idea about the suspects. “The suspects were living in two houses on rent and did not interact with the villagers,” he added.

The police questioned 50 persons of Doksangvi and adjoining hamlets whether they could throw light on the activities of the suspects.

The chawl owner, Satish Pachange, told DNA that the suspects spoke Bengali. “We didn’t know what language they spoke. They used to cook for themselves in their rooms. They usually returned home at night from work. They paid rent of Rs1,400 per month for the two rooms,” he said.

According to the former sarpanch of the village, Bhausheb Malgunde, there are over 2,000 people from outside the state residing in the village as tenants. The villagers do not monitor their activities.