Personal Stress, Not Election-Related: Chinchwad Returning Officer’s Vehicle Targeted In Tyre-Burning Incident, Says Pune District Collector
Personal Stress, Not Election-Related: Chinchwad Returning Officer’s Vehicle Targeted In Tyre-Burning Incident, Says Pune District Collector
PUNE- In a dramatic attempt to gain attention, a 45-year-old blind man, Vinayak Sopan Ovhal, tried to set fire to the tyres of Chinchwad assembly returning officer Anil Pawar’s car on Monday afternoon. The incident occurred at around 4:30 p.m. and is believed to stem from Ovhal’s frustration over unaddressed applications for housing and small business aid.
Ovhal had repeatedly sought assistance under the Ramai Awas Yojana Gharkul (housing scheme) and Rasvanti Shop schemes through the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). However, he claims his applications went unanswered, which led him to take this drastic action to draw public and media attention.
“The incident involving the attempt to burn the tyres of the private vehicle belonging to the Chinchwad Assembly Returning Officer was found, in preliminary police inquiries, to be due to the individual’s personal stress. The reason behind this incident is not related to the assembly election,” informed Pune District Collector Dr. Suhas Divase.
This isn’t the first time Ovhal has taken extreme measures to highlight his grievances. During the August 15 flag-hoisting ceremony, he reportedly broke the windows of the municipal commissioner’s official vehicle. He has also recently filed his nomination as an independent candidate in the upcoming elections, though police confirmed that Monday’s incident was unrelated to the election.
An offence has been registered, and Ovhal is now in custody as authorities investigate the case further.
