33 Gangsters Killed in Police Encounters Over Three Decades in Pune Region
Pune, 17th June 2025: In the last three decades, as many as 33 gangsters have been gunned down in police encounters in Pune and surrounding areas, a reflection of the city’s battle against rising organized crime. While Mumbai once dominated headlines for gang warfare and police encounters in the 1990s, Pune too witnessed a series of gunfights that marked turning points in its criminal landscape.
The latest such incident took place recently when Shahurkh Shaikh, a notorious member of the Tipu Pathan gang from Hadapsar, was shot dead by Pune Police in an encounter at Lamboti village in Solapur district. His death reignited conversations around the effectiveness and ethics of encounter killings as a tool to curb gang violence.
First Encounter Dates Back to 1983
The city’s first recorded encounter occurred on May 22, 1983, in the Dhobi Ghat area of Pune Camp, where gangster Raju Hissamuddin Shaikh was killed. Nearly a decade later, on May 17, 1992, gangster Jaggya Mhaskhe was shot dead near Dandekar Bridge during a shootout with then-sub-inspector Dattatray Temghare.
The 1990s also saw an influx of Mumbai gangsters in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. Members of the Arun Gawli gang, including Kiran Walawalkar and Ravi Karanjavkar, were killed in an encounter in Kondhwa — a significant operation led by officers Suresh Pote and Temghare.
Gangsters Who Met Their End
Several high-profile criminals have been eliminated in encounters since then, including:
-Meghnath alias Budhlya Shetty (Yerwada)
-Pramod Malwadkar (Pimpri-Kalewadi, 1997)
-Suresh Takale, Khalil Shaikh, Mohammad Shaikh, Rohidas Yewale, Robert Salve, Rahul Kandhare, Mobin Shaikh, Baba Gandale, and others.
These operations brought attention to officers like Ashok Chandgude, Vinod Satav, Rajendra Joshi, Ajit Joshi, and Milind Gaikwad, whose teams led many of the successful operations.
Criminals from outside Pune were also involved in major incidents. Suresh Manchekar’s gang members, including Vishwanath Kamat, Gopal Naidu, and Sakharam Kolekar from Kalyan, as well as Dilip Gosavi from the Chhota Rajan gang, were neutralized in encounters with Pune Police. Sadashiv Shetty, who was known for robbing couriers (angadias), was shot dead near Chandni Chowk.
Over time, organized crime syndicates in Pune began replicating Mumbai’s gang structure, particularly in land dealings. These gangs were involved in land grabbing, threatening occupants, and facilitating illegal construction, often backed by funding from real estate developers. Their rising wealth and power lured many youth into gangs, fueling inter-gang rivalries in areas like Mulshi, Kothrud, Kondhwa, Maval, and Bibwewadi.
Legal and Administrative Response
Police efforts to curb gang dominance saw a shift after the Supreme Court issued strict guidelines regarding encounters. Human rights commissions and victims’ families raised concerns about police conduct, resulting in a reduction in such incidents.
Instead, authorities intensified the use of stringent legal provisions, invoking the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and the MPDA (Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act). These laws made it difficult for gang leaders and their associates to secure bail, effectively curbing their influence.
Despite these crackdowns, minor gang activities have surged, involving vehicle arson, assault, and murder attempts, often carried out by minors or youth under gang influence. Many aspire to emulate notorious gang leaders, aiming to create fear and establish dominance.
The challenge for Pune Police now lies in tackling this new generation of crime, where the masterminds may be behind bars, but their legacy continues through younger foot soldiers. With a rapidly growing urban population and increasing socio-economic divides, the city faces the pressing task of evolving its crime prevention strategies to address these shifting patterns.
