Pune Police Ban Protests Outside Party Offices And Leaders’ Homes
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Pune, February 17, 2026: Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar on Monday termed the recent political unrest in the city as “deeply regrettable” and announced that demonstrations will no longer be permitted outside political party offices or at the homes of political leaders.
The move follows a confrontation between workers of the Indian National Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party near Congress Bhavan, which escalated into stone-throwing. Several individuals were injured in the incident, including police personnel and journalists present at the scene.
Speaking to reporters, Kumar said officers responded promptly once tensions flared. “The situation turned volatile when stone-pelting began, but police intervened quickly and brought it under control,” he said.
The commissioner clarified that authorities had no prior intelligence suggesting that the protest could become violent. “There was no specific input indicating a possibility of clashes or stone-pelting. Had such information been available, permission would not have been granted,” he stated.
Police have registered cases against members of both parties based on complaints received. Kumar said further action would depend on the findings of the ongoing investigation. “Strict legal action will be taken against anyone found responsible,” he said.
Addressing queries about the absence of an offence against the city mayor, Kumar explained that police action was based solely on formal complaints. “An FIR has been filed according to the complaint received. If additional involvement comes to light during the investigation, necessary steps will be taken,” he added.
While defending the initial decision to allow the protest near Congress Bhavan, Kumar reiterated that there had been no warning signs of potential violence at the time. However, he said the police would adopt a more cautious approach in future. “To avoid recurrence of such incidents, protests outside party offices and leaders’ residences will not be allowed,” he said.
Dismissing allegations made by Congress leaders against the police, the commissioner maintained that officers acted in accordance with established procedures. He emphasised that preserving law and order in Pune remains the department’s foremost priority.
