Pune Rural police have withdrawn the security cover provided to shipping company owner Rana Suryavanshi, weeks after he was attacked despite three police constables and private security personnel being present, according to an officer quoted by the Times of India. Police have not disclosed why the protection was removed.
Suryavanshi, 42, had been under round-the-clock police protection since September last year. Three constables had been deployed with him across the jurisdictions of Pune Rural, Sambhajinagar, Gadchiroli and Solapur Rural police. The Pune Rural unit has now withdrawn its personnel, while an officer declined to comment further on the decision.
The move follows an October 18 attack in which a youngster allegedly opened fire at Suryavanshi and assaulted him with a knife. He suffered an injury to his hand and is now stable, the report said. The attack took place while the police guards were present, but the assailants managed to reach him.
A Pune Rural police officer said two youngsters from Karvenagar had allegedly been recruited by handlers based in Baramati. The officer said the two were paid Rs 2 lakh to carry out the assault. Police have recorded statements from all three constables who were deployed with Suryavanshi at the time of the incident.
The incident has also raised questions about how the protection arrangement operated across multiple police jurisdictions and whether the guards were able to intervene effectively during the attack. The police account states that the two youngsters reached Suryavanshi and attempted to kill him despite the presence of the constables and private security personnel. The circumstances surrounding the deployment and the response remain part of the investigation.
Baramati Rural police have arrested five people in the attempted murder case so far. Investigators have allegedly identified a sixth person who paid the suspects to carry out the assault, but that individual has not yet been arrested and remains under search. Police have said that the motive for the attack is still being investigated.
The withdrawal of security comes as the investigation continues into the attack, the alleged recruitment of the assailants and the role of the suspected sixth participant. Pune Rural police have not stated whether any alternative protection arrangement has been ordered for Suryavanshi or whether departmental action will follow the review of the incident.
