Pune: Migrant worker walking home due to lockdown looted of his ‘belongings’
Mehab Qureshi
Pune, May 11, 2020: Just after 15 migrant labourers been crushed by goods train in Aurangabad, comes another story of assault but this time in our city. With no clarity on transportation, hundreds of migrant labourers all over the country have chosen to walk barefoot to their respective villages. Some are travelling interstate while some inter-districts in Maharashtra.
Similarly, Sanjay Bhilare is a labourer who worked at a construction site in Baner. He decided to walk to his hometown in Yavatmal district. However, on Saturday around 11 pm, he was attacked by a group of robbers near Patil Estate slum in Wakdewadi. He had started his 600-kilometre-long journey from Baner on foot.
The goons mercilessly assaulted him with kicks and punches. Also, they snatched away his mobile phone along with the only Rs 500 note that he had saved to commute to his hometown. Ironically enough, the spot near Sangamwadi bridge where the crime took place is only 100 m away from a police nakabandi point.
This incident only came to spotlight when Sumit Yadav from Dhanori spotted Bhilare on Sangamwadi road crying for help. Yadav helped Sanjay and shot a video which has gone viral on social media platforms. Bhilare also informed about the incident to the control room of Pune Police. Finally, Yadav dropped Bhilare at the Wagholi bus stop where the district administration arranged Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses for stranded labourers, after getting their verification done.
Khadki police station has been investigating the case. However, no FIR has been registered with the police station. When asked Senior Police Inspector Bhagwat Misal said that police haven’t registered any FIR as the victim is not available. They tried calling him as well, but he doesn’t seem to answer the phone. Now investigation is being done based on the video footage.
