Residents in and around Morgaon, in Pune district, have demanded stronger night patrols and the revival of village safety teams after a series of robbery attempts and a recent suspected break-in were reported in the area. Police have said night patrols are being conducted and that the village safety force will be activated with new members.
The latest incident took place at around 1.30am on Friday, when a group of six to seven people allegedly tried to cut through the window of a house using weapons. A young man inside the house noticed the attempt and alerted neighbours through his mobile phone. When residents reached the spot, the group fled towards a nearby sugarcane field.
The young residents searched for the group until about 4am, but could not locate them. Police visited the site after receiving information about the incident. The report did not state whether arrests had been made or whether the identities of the suspected intruders had been established.
The incident follows a series of other reported offences in the area. On Monday night, robbery attempts were reported at five locations in Morgaon, with theft taking place at one of them, according to the report. Residents are also concerned after a double murder in nearby Sherewadi, where two elderly women sleeping in a courtyard were allegedly killed in an incident linked to an attempt to steal gold.
The incidents have affected residents’ movement after dark, with people reportedly reluctant to leave their homes at night. Community members have asked the police to increase night patrols and have called for the village safety force to be made active again, with greater participation from local youth.
Shashikant Shelke, assistant inspector at Supe police station, said night patrols were being conducted in the area and that the village safety force would be activated. He said new young members would be included and that a meeting would be held to provide safety-related instructions to existing members, who had previously received training.
Police have advised residents to keep doors and windows locked, use safety doors and inform authorities about unfamiliar people. They have also suggested that gram panchayats install closed-circuit television cameras at public places. The police response places responsibility for immediate safety across local policing, village institutions and residents, while the proposed village safety force is intended to strengthen local surveillance after dark.
The next steps identified by the police are the activation of the village safety force, the inclusion of new youth members and a fresh safety meeting. The report did not provide a specific date for those measures or details of any additional police deployment.
