Pune: Pimpri Chinchwad Crime Branch Nabs Accused Behind Post-Voting Firing in Warje

Reported by Varad Bhatkhande

Pimpri Chinchwad, 9th May 2024: After voting took place in the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency during the 3rd Phase of the Lok Sabha elections, an individual opened fire in an attempt to spread terror. The perpetrator, a notorious history-sheeter, was apprehended by the Crime Branch Unit 2 of the Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissionerate (PCPC). The incident occurred in the Ram Nagar area of Warje late at night on Tuesday (8th May).

Concerning this incident, Police Constable Hemkant Pawar complained to the Warje Malwadi Police Station. The accused has been identified as Siddhappa Yelsangekar, aged 35, and a resident of Gulbarga, Karnataka.

According to police reports, part of Warje falls within the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, where voting took place on Tuesday (7th). The voting process proceeded peacefully. However, after the voting concluded, at around eleven o’clock in the night, three individuals arrived on a two-wheeler at Shakti Chowk in Ram Nagar, Warje. They fired shots into the air, causing no injuries but instilling fear among the residents. The assailants fled towards Katraj.

The Pune police control room received information about the incident, prompting senior officials of the Pune Police Force to rush to the scene. 2 minors were swiftly detained by the police, but the third accomplice managed to evade capture. Given that the location of the firing was far from the polling station, the Pune Police stated that the incident was unrelated to the voting process.

The Pune Police informed the Pimpri Chinchwad Police about the incident, prompting the latter to alert the crime branch. Meanwhile, on Wednesday night (8th March), the Crime Branch Unit 2, led by Senior Police Inspector Jitendra Kadam, received information that a person carrying a pistol was spotted near Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Chowk in Pimpri. The police detained Siddappa and seized a pistol from him. During interrogation, Siddappa confessed to being involved in the firing incident at Warje on Tuesday night, along with his two minor accomplices. While the minors were apprehended earlier, Siddappa attempted to hide in the Pimpri Chinchwad area on Wednesday. However, he was eventually located and detained by the police while he was consuming alcohol at a location in Pimpri.

Siddappa disclosed to the police that he has 2 murder cases registered against him at Yelasangi Police Station in the Gulbarga district. The police are currently verifying this information. Additionally, a case has been registered against Siddappa at the Pimpri police station for the possession of a pistol. Warje Malwadi Police are investigating this matter further.