Passenger Attacks Autorickshaw Driver with Knife in Pune

A violent incident occurred on the morning of March 10, 2024, in Pune, where a man attempted to murder an autorickshaw driver with a knife over a dispute regarding a stop. The victim, Subhash Chavan, aged 66, sustained serious injuries to his throat and was immediately rushed to a hospital for treatment.

According to the Dehu Road police, Chavan had been en route to the Pimpri station to collect a delivery of vegetables when he picked up a passenger who requested a ride to Shirgaon. The passenger offered ₹500 for the trip, which Chavan accepted.

As the autorickshaw approached the old octroi post in Nigdi, the passenger suddenly demanded that Chavan stop the vehicle to answer a call of nature. Given the speed of the vehicle on the Pune-Mumbai highway, Chavan could not halt immediately. He managed to slow down and stop in front of Kendriya Vidyalaya around 7:30 AM.

Upon exiting the vehicle, the passenger began to verbally abuse Chavan for not stopping sooner. In a shocking turn of events, he brandished a knife and attacked Chavan, inflicting severe wounds to his throat before fleeing the scene.

Despite his injuries, Chavan drove himself to the hospital, where he received urgent medical attention. Following the incident, the Dehu Road police were notified and registered a case under Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to attempted murder. Senior Inspector Vikram Bansode stated that investigations are ongoing, although there were no CCTV cameras in the vicinity to aid in identifying the suspect.

Authorities are actively searching for the assailant, and police are urging anyone with information to come forward. This troubling attack highlights the risks faced by public transport operators and raises concerns about passenger safety in the region.