Pune: Inspired by Uttar Pradesh’s aggressive crackdown on criminals, Pune Police are gearing up to implement a similar strategy by demolishing illegal properties linked to serious offenders.
This move, commonly referred to as the "bulldozer model" introduced by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, aims to tackle criminal activities by targeting the offenders' illegal assets.
Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar has announced that the Pune Police are in the process of identifying illegal constructions owned by known criminals.
“If criminals behave like outlaws, the police will not remain lenient. We are determined to show that the law applies to everyone, including those who think they are above it,” Kumar stated.
He added, “If criminals have built their houses illegally, bulldozers will be used to bring them down. We are already gathering the necessary data to ensure this action complies with all legal regulations.”
This approach has been widely recognized across India as a stringent measure to discourage unlawful behavior by dismantling the economic and physical infrastructure that supports criminal networks.
In Uttar Pradesh, whenever a criminal is involved in serious crimes, their properties are scrutinized, and unauthorized constructions are demolished without delay. This bulldozer approach has garnered significant national attention and is seen as a bold step in crime prevention.
The Pune Police are now expanding their intelligence-gathering operations to include details about the residences of notorious criminals. Previously, the police focused on collecting information about the criminal's activities, past offenses, and associates.
The new strategy involves investigating the legality of the criminal's home, whether it is owned or rented, and whether it has the required permissions from the municipal authorities.
The crackdown is expected to start with the perpetrators involved in the murder case of Vanraj Andekar. However, due to the ongoing responsibilities of managing security during the Ganeshotsav festival, the police will continue to gather relevant information discreetly.
The actual demolition actions are anticipated to begin once the festival concludes, marking the start of a comprehensive effort to curb criminal influence in Pune.
