Pune was rocked by a brazen gang war on the eve of Ganesh Visarjan, resulting in the death of 20-year-old Govind Komkar, also known as Ayush. The incident occurred in the Nana Peth area and is suspected to be a revenge killing linked to the murder of former NCP corporator Vanraj Andekar last year.
According to police reports, Govind Komkar, son of Ganesh Komkar, who is an accused in the Vanraj Andekar murder case, was attacked by unidentified assailants. The assailants reportedly fired multiple rounds at Komkar, leaving him with fatal injuries. He was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Nikhil Pingle stated that the incident occurred around 7:45 pm when Ayush was returning from tuition.
The murder is suspected to be the result of a long-standing gang rivalry. Vanraj Andekar, a former corporator, was murdered on September 1, 2024, in the same Nana Peth area. Ganesh Komkar, Govind's father, is among those accused in Andekar's murder. Investigations into Vanraj Andekar's murder revealed that his own sisters, Sanjivani Jayant Komkar and Kalyani Ganesh Komkar, along with their husbands, allegedly conspired to kill him due to family and property disputes. They are said to have enlisted the help of gangster Somnath Gaikwad. Andekar's sisters allegedly had a dispute over family assets for several years. It was revealed that Andekar had demolished his sister's shop during an anti-encroachment drive, leading to animosity and the conspiracy to murder him.
In the wake of Govind Komkar's murder, Pune Police have launched a massive manhunt to nab the accused. Six crime branch teams have been formed to investigate the case.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, police had previously taken preventive action, arresting members of the Andekar gang. Just two days before Govind Komkar's murder, a case was registered against eight individuals, including members of the Andekar gang, and two people linked to the Tipu Pathan gang were arrested on suspicion of supplying firearms to the Andekar gang. This indicates the ongoing tensions and the potential for further violence between the rival factions.
The incident has sparked concern among local residents, especially with the ongoing Ganesh festival. The brazen nature of the crime and the apparent revenge motive have raised questions about law and order in the city. The police are under pressure to quickly apprehend the culprits and prevent further escalation of the gang war. The murder of Govind Komkar underscores the deep-seated rivalries and the cycle of violence that plagues certain areas of Pune.
