Court Remands Protesters to Police Custody After Violent Pune Metro Demonstration
Pune, March 10, 2025: Nine protesters, including Narendra Pawtekar and his father Dnyaneshwar, have been remanded in police custody for two days by a Pune Court. The remaining eight protesters were sent to judicial custody. The group, affiliated with the Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SP), had staged a violent protest on the Pune Metro tracks near the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Metro Station yesterday, causing significant disruptions and damage.
During the protest, the demonstrators, who were demanding free education and employment opportunities among other issues, clashed with police, splashing petrol on senior officers and causing injuries to several personnel, including Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1) Sandeep Singh Gill and Senior Inspector Chandrashekhar Sawant of Shivajinagar Police Station. The protest resulted in damage to the metro tracks and wiring, prompting concerns about the intent behind choosing such a sensitive location for the demonstration.
The police are investigating whether the protesters had a premeditated plan to cause harm and who might have instigated the violence. The NCP-SP has disowned the protest, expelling Narendra Pawtekar from the party. The incident has raised questions about the safety and security measures at the metro station, as protesters were able to carry petrol onto the premises. The police have filed charges against the protesters under various sections, including attempt to murder and rioting.
