Pune APMC Traders Announce Bandh Over Escalating Theft Incidents
Traders operating from the APMC Market Yard in Gultekdi, Pune, have declared a one-day bandh on February 25 in protest against a significant rise in theft cases over the past six months. They allege persistent inaction by the market committee and police, despite numerous complaints highlighting security vulnerabilities and financial losses.
Leadership Voices Concerns and Calls for Action
Rajendra Bathiya, president of the Poona Merchants' Chambers, which represents over 600 traders at the Market Yard, stated that the decision to observe the bandh stems from unaddressed grievances. "We have raised our concerns on multiple occasions, but they have not been addressed. As a mark of protest, we will observe a one-day bandh," Bathiya emphasized. He added that the issue has been formally brought to the attention of both the APMC committee and local police several times, yet no concrete measures have been implemented to curb the thefts, leading to substantial financial setbacks for traders.
Firsthand Accounts of Theft and Security Failures
Raikumar Nahar, a trader at the Market Yard, shared a distressing experience of having AC cables and cold storage equipment stolen from his shop twice within the last four months. "All these incidents occurred within the Market Yard premises despite security at the entrance. There have also been cases of shop break-ins in which cash and goods worth thousands of rupees were stolen," he reported, noting that a recent incident occurred just two days ago. Traders collectively point to inadequate security personnel deployment as a key factor leaving various areas of the yard exposed to criminal activities.
Additional Issues: Traffic Congestion and Administrative Delays
Beyond thefts, traders highlighted ongoing problems with traffic management outside the Market Yard. An anonymous trader remarked, "Vehicles are parked haphazardly, and there is heavy congestion outside the main entrance gate almost every day, but no action is being taken to address the problem." This congestion issue, previously addressed two years ago by the traffic department and market administration, has resurfaced, compounding the traders' frustrations.
Official Response and Proposed Measures
Rajaram Dhondkar, secretary of APMC Pune, acknowledged the rising theft incidents, confirming that the matter has been escalated to the police department. He noted, "In most cases, copper cables of AC units and other equipment are stolen. It has been observed that in a majority of these cases, the suspects are minors." Dhondkar explained that a scheduled meeting with traders on Monday was postponed to Thursday due to APMC officials attending the ongoing session at Mantralaya. Regarding security enhancements, he stated, "At present, we have 40 security personnel deployed in three shifts at the Market Yard. The traders' demand to increase the number of security staff is also under consideration."
The bandh on February 25 aims to draw urgent attention to these critical issues, pushing for immediate action to restore safety and order at the bustling Market Yard.
