Pune: Rohit Pawar Shares Chilling ‘Koyta Gang’ Video, Urges Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar to Act

Pune, 3rd May 2025: Amid growing concern over rising gang-related violence in Pune, NCP (SP) leader and MLA Rohit Pawar on Saturday shared a disturbing video on social media showing an armed clash allegedly involving members of the so-called “Koyta Gang.”

Pawar tagged Maharashtra Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Pune Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar, urging them to take swift and decisive action.

The video, reportedly from Pune’s Bibwewadi area, shows two rival groups engaging in a violent street fight in broad daylight. Several young men can be seen attacking each other with sharp weapons (locally known as koyta) and stones, triggering panic among bystanders and halting traffic in the area.

Incidents linked to the “Koyta Gang” — a term used to describe loosely organized youth groups known for public violence — have surged in Pune and its outskirts in recent months. Many of these groups are said to include both repeat offenders and minors. They are often caught on CCTV vandalizing vehicles and attacking rivals, with videos frequently going viral on social media, further stoking fear among residents.

In his post on platform X (formerly Twitter), Rohit Pawar criticized the state government for downplaying the threat. “When the issue of the Koyta Gang was raised during the Assembly session, the government claimed it doesn’t exist. And now—look at the chaos caused just yesterday! The situation in Pune is deteriorating day by day. I humbly request the Home Minister and the Guardian Minister to intervene,” Pawar wrote.

The Koyta Gang issue was earlier raised in the state legislature by Vadgaon Sheri MLA Bapu Pathare. At the time, the government had denied the existence of any such organized gang, calling it a term sensationalized by the media.

Pawar’s post highlighted the stark contrast between the government’s denial and the reality visible in the latest video.

What the Video Shows
The video clip, captured by a CCTV camera, shows a group of young men assembling on a busy street before erupting into a violent confrontation. One individual is seen brandishing a machete and attacking a rival, while others hurl stones and wield improvised weapons. The sudden eruption of violence sent pedestrians and motorists scrambling for safety.

The incident has reignited calls for stronger policing, better surveillance, and immediate preventive measures to curb the menace of gang violence in Pune.