Out of the pan and into the fire

And this is the reason why 200 families, out of which 75 per cent are retired personnel from various fields, chose the New Baner Area, to settle down in the sunset of their lives. This area is about six kilometres from the University Circle. About 500 residential plots lie on both sides of the Baner-Mhalunge Road that finally touches the Westerly bypass at the other end. Out of these, 200 residential complexes in the form of modest bungalows and multi-storeyed flats have been constructed. Now, 200 seems quite a substantial figure, if you look at it theoretically. But actually speaking, these houses are sprawled over a very large, sparsely-inhabited area.

Which means, barring a few small housing societies where you can see a cluster of flats or small bungalows in a row, you have one bungalow almost amidst wilderness before you spot the next one. That’s again because, shrubs and trees against a backdrop of agricultural fields intersperse cement structures. Obviously, this was, not-so-long-ago, a large agricultural land that has been given the Non-Agricultural use (NA) permission. And rags-to riches stories of farmers who flaunt their newly acquired wealth through gambling and buying of cars make spicy gossip amongst residents.

So what if you are living in a locality which isn’t too much of a concrete jungle? Not a bad price to pay for tranquillity and crisp, fresh air. Away from the madding crowd, away from the hustle-bustle of urbanisation! So far, so good!

Only, for the residents who have settled here about two to three years ago (very few have been here since the last 10 years), burglaries at regular intervals and in one case, a dacoity, has given them sleepless nights.

Afraid that trouble might knock at their door any night, they endeavour to become their own nightwatchmen, to do their own policing and build strategies for self-defence.

Strange knocks at doors, is nothing weird to these residents but when armed dacoits, for the first time entered the Padale residence at night and burnt their car, after they were unable to break into the house, fear set in. That was on August 1, 1998. However, it was this year’s incident on February 18 that has shattered the confidence of the New Baner area residents.

Arvind Ketkar, a former employee of the Indian Railways, lived in a modest bungalow, off the Baner-Mhalunge Road, about two kilometres off the Westerly bypass, along with his wife and son. On that fateful night, he was away at Mumbai. The dacoits broke open the front door and struck his son’s head with an axe. His wife was also not spared. Both were seriously injured. Now, nine months after the incident, his son has lost some of his vision and cannot walk properly due to a fracture caused that night. They have shifted to their Dombivili residence for good. Says Ketkar, “My son was a sharebroker but now with his physical disability after the dacoity, his mobility has been restricted specially in a place like Mumbai where he cannot commute by the local trains .”

Since October 1999, the residents say they have been regularly harassed by a spate of burglaries. The two prominent ones being the house-breaking incident at Ketkar’s locked house again and the burglary at S K Bhosale’s residence, on the noon of November 22. During the past two months, strange knocks at the doors in the dead of the night have become common occurrence.

However, it is the daylight burglary at the Bhosale residence that has had everyone worried. Now, these desperadoes have become bold enough to come during the day too, rue the residents.

In order to stand united, about 100-odd residents have come under the banner of New Baner Citizen’s Forum, for the past one year that includes a member of the industrialist Garware family who has a lavish bungalow in a deserted corner.

The residents pleaded for police patrolling after the February 18 dacoity. The police commissioner was kind enough to deploy two constables, every night. In a creditable and thoughtful gesture, Garware offered his Tata Sumo along with the driver and a mobile phone for the constables. And every night, one or two forum members would travel in this Sumo, along with the constables.

Lt.Col.A.D Thombre (retd) whose bungalow is also in a secluded area has admirably picked up the gauntlet to counteract the dacoits and burglars at the ring of the phone, even if it is in the dead of the night. He took the lead in forming the forum, and “ever since”, he says “it has been a futile interaction with the police commissioner, for a request of a police chowki in this area.” States Thombre, “This lasted for four months and when the monsoon arrived, we had to abandon this exercise.”

The residents say, that the police commissioner is unable to monitor their area regularly due to staff shortage and the sprawling area. In such a case, self-defence is one option. Dr.S.L.Kanitkar, former head of the mechanical engineering department of IIT, Powai, who’s spending his retirement years here says,“After the Bhosales were attacked, we applied for arms’ licenses to the commissionerate for self-defence. Now, if we cannot be assured of a police chowki or police patrolling, then at least allow us to own arms. We all live in fear out here constantly.”

His daughter Meera Ranade, who lives nearby reflects the same views. Says she, “For so many months, we have been keeping awake till past 2 a.m, for the fear that some burglary or dacoity might take place during these crucial night hours. At times, me and my husband take turns to sleep.” Her husband, Aniruddh, has also applied for an arms’ licence and he is waiting patiently for the last six months.

Until then, it is the courage of Lt. Col.Thombre and his son Kunal who attend night calls of the neighbourhood on an average five to six times a month, that keeps them going. A few days ago, I rode pillion on his scooter and meandered through the deadly lanes and bylanes, many of which are kuchha roads without streetlights. I can’t imagine how both the gutsy father-son duo, putting their life at stake, zoom on their two-wheeler for an emergency call. Here, emergency means, a burglary being attempted. And that’s no joke, leaving your wife and life behind and stirring out with weapons. We need to salute both of them! In this age of indifference to neighbours, here are the Thombres who are lending more than just a helping hand. They are lending their very lives, in order that others feel safe. Even a die-hard cynic must not sneer at such a gesture. These are indeed people of a rare breed. Salaam Saab, yet again.

S K Bhosale, the president of the forum, is a worried man today, not only because his house was burgled and his jewellery was stolen in broad daylight but because police security is not coming by, on a permanent basis.

Says he, “We have been requesting the police commissioner to pitch a tent in my compound but nothing has happened.” About one year ago, a tent was pitched on the roadside, about one kilometre from Bhosale’s house, but it has become the favourite haunt of stray dogs. While these residents are happy with the Chatuhshrungi chowki police personnel, who they say, come immediately when called, they rue that these cops are so inadequately armed that they have never effectively countered the dacoits.

For these large group of Puneites, the city is not a hunky-dory place, as they thought it to be. They have never lived in so much fear as they live now. They sit huddled in the house and rarely step out after sunset.

Something, that is rarely done in Pune. A place where you can feel free, roam free, without fear. But here’s a newly sprouted residential zone that is relating a reverse tale. Surely, much to worry about!