Pune: Unidentified individuals fired as many as six rounds outside AJ Furniture Mall in Ravet around 9:20 PM on Friday. The incident has sparked a police investigation, with authorities examining social media posts that allegedly claimed responsibility and linked the attack to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
Police Verification Underway
Pimpri Chinchwad police have stated that there is no concrete evidence yet connecting the firing to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. “We are verifying the screenshots of the social media post that claimed responsibility,” said Shivaji Pawar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) for Pimpri Chinchwad.
Case Registered Under Multiple Sections
Senior Police Inspector Nitin Fatangare of Ravet police confirmed that an offense has been registered under sections related to attempt to murder, extortion, and provisions of the Arms Act. “Multiple teams have started working on the case, and we hope to apprehend the suspects soon,” he added.
Extortion Calls Preceded the Attack
According to police, one of the partners of the furniture mall had been receiving extortion calls over the past few days, with the callers demanding Rs 2 crore. Fatangare stated that the partner had blocked the number before the firing incident. Following the attack, his partner Jagdish Bishnoi approached the police.
Social Media Posts Under Scrutiny
Shortly after the firing, screenshots of social media posts allegedly made by accounts named Aarzoo Bishnoi and Shubham Lonkar were widely shared. These posts claimed that the firing was aimed at an alleged hawala operator and described the incident as a “trailer,” threatening further attacks.
Possible Old Dispute Link
Sources in the police indicated that investigators are also probing whether the incident stems from an old dispute linked to Rajasthan. The investigation is ongoing, with multiple teams working to identify and apprehend the suspects.
