Pune Reports Significant Drop in Serious Crimes While Non-Fatal Assaults Remain High

In 2025, Pune experienced a notable decrease in serious violent crimes, including a 15 per cent drop in murders. However, non-fatal assaults remain a concern, with personal disputes driving these incidents. Enhanced policing measures contributed to the overall decline.

Pune city has seen a notable reduction in violent crimes in 2025, with murder cases decreasing by 15% and attempted murders dropping by 14.5% compared to the previous year. According to data released on Monday, these improvements are attributed to effective policing strategies and technological integration.

Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar shared insights from the Annual Crime Review Conference 2025, highlighting that Pune recorded 79 murder cases this year, down from 93 in 2024. This continues a positive trend from 101 cases in 2023. Attempt-to-murder incidents also saw a decline, falling from 240 in 2024 to 179 in 2025, marking the lowest figure in five years.

Focus on Technology and Surveillance

Kumar credited the decline in serious crimes to enhanced surveillance measures. These include expanded CCTV networks, AI-enabled analytics, drone monitoring, and mobile surveillance units. Such advancements have significantly contributed to crime prevention efforts.

Despite these successes, officials remain concerned about high levels of "hurt" cases involving non-fatal assaults. Although there was a slight decrease—from 1,515 cases in 2024 to 1,453 in 2025—these numbers are still higher than in previous years. Personal disputes and road rage are common causes of such incidents.

Addressing Organised Crime

The city experienced significant gang violence this year, notably the murder of Ayush Komkar, linked to an ongoing feud after the September 2024 murder of former corporator Vanraj Andekar. Police invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act against 21 individuals involved in the Andekar case.

Property crime indicators also showed improvement. Vehicle thefts and other theft categories recorded reductions alongside higher recovery rates. This reflects the effectiveness of police efforts in tackling organised crime and property-related offences.

Community Engagement and Future Plans

Kumar emphasised that addressing everyday violence remains a priority despite progress in controlling serious crimes. The department plans to focus on community partnerships, dispute counselling, and visible policing to prevent minor disagreements from escalating.

Looking ahead, police intend to continue enhanced patrolling and targeted crackdowns into the new year. These measures aim to maintain public safety and further reduce crime rates across Pune.

With inputs from PTI