Pune: Four Held in Ganesh Kale Murder Linked to Gang Rivalry
Pune: Four Held in Ganesh Kale Murder Linked to Gang Rivalry Between Andekar and Komkar Groups
Kondhwa: Pune Police have arrested four people in connection with the murder of rickshaw driver Ganesh Kale from Kondhwa, in what investigators believe is another episode in the violent rivalry between the Andekar and Komkar gangs.
According to police, the suspects fled Pune after the crime, which took place on Saturday afternoon near a petrol pump on Bopdev Ghat Road, between Khadi Machine Chowk and Saswad. One of the accused is a close aide of gangster Krishna Andekar, while another is said to be a local social media “reel star.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone V) Rajkumar Shinde said Kale was driving his rickshaw from Yewalewadi toward Khadi Machine Chowk when two motorcycles intercepted him around 3:30 pm. The attackers opened fire at close range, firing four rounds. After Kale collapsed, they stabbed him in the head before fleeing the scene.
CCTV footage from the nearby petrol pump shows the attackers escaping with weapons in hand. The footage has been seized, and police are now tracing others possibly involved.
The 32-year-old victim suffered bullet injuries to his neck, chest, and stomach and died on the spot. Investigators noted that the attack closely resembled the 2023 murder of former corporator Vanraj Andekar, who was also shot and then stabbed.
Police sources confirmed that Ganesh was the brother of Sameer Kale, a member of the Komkar gang and an accused in Vanraj Andekar’s murder. Sameer is currently in jail. Officers suspect Ganesh’s killing may be a revenge attack connected to the long-running feud between the two rival groups.
Over the past year, the Andekar–Komkar conflict has claimed several lives, including that of Ayush Komkar in September, which had already heightened tensions. Authorities fear this latest killing could further fuel the gang war.
Both gangs are now under strict surveillance, with several members booked under MCOCA. Police have also been targeting the financial network of Bandu alias Suryakant Andekar, aiming to curb gang activities in the city.
