Pune Citizens Unite for Justice: Peaceful Protest Planned On May 26 Near PMC Bhavan
Pune Citizens Unite for Justice: Peaceful Protest Planned On May 26 Near PMC Bhavan
Expressing their concerns, organisers highlight alleged obstacles posed earlier by the Shivajinagar Police Station, accusing them of creating unnecessary hurdles.
24 May 2024
By Sukhmani Kooner
In a bid for justice, citizens in Pune are uniting for a peaceful demonstration outside the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Bhavan on 26th May. The gathering, organised by non-political entities, aims to advocate for justice for Aneesh and Ashwini, two individuals tragically killed in a drunk driving incident.
A Porsche, driven by a 17-year-old whom police allege was intoxicated, fatally struck two software engineers on motorcycles in the city during the early hours of Sunday, 19th May.
Expressing their concerns, organisers highlight alleged obstacles posed by the Shivajinagar Police Station, accusing them of creating unnecessary hurdles. The protest underscores a community’s demand for accountability and a fair resolution in the aftermath of the devastating event.
Social media X (formerly Twitter) user St_Brosephs posted about this to the Police Commissioner, “The officials have been calling and almost threatening us that we’ll face “consequences” if we organize the protest. Do citizens in Pune not have a democratic right to protest as per Article 19 of the Indian Constitution?”
The account, in a series of posts, says, “The police station is talking about “Model Code of Conduct” to us, regular citizens, when the Election Commission’s Model Code of Conduct does not apply to regular citizens and their protests at all. Ours is NOT a political program, it is merely an outcry for justice.” The following post reads, “To AVOID troubles for Police and traffic disruptions, we are protesting in one spot outside PMC at the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Statue, which is a garden. We’ll meet, give tributes to the deceased, raise slogans, talk about the case, call for justice, and leave peacefully.”
In conversation with Pune Pulse, the organisers of the protest have recently confirmed receiving clearance for the protest on 26th May after an X (formerly Twitter) post reached the Commissioner of Police, Pune, who in turn communicated with the Shivajinagar Police Station to ensure the protest functions without obstruction.
With emotions running high, citizens are set to assemble, echoing a collective call for justice and urging authorities to address their grievances promptly.
