Pune: The Pune Police Crime Branch’s Unit II team apprehended a habitual offender within 24 hours in connection with the murder of Rohit Sanjay Phalke, a 24-year-old resident of Vaiphale in Tasgaon Taluka.

The tragic incident occurred on Thursday evening at approximately 6:15 PM. Rohit Phalke was brutally attacked and killed by six individuals wielding sharp weapons. The murder was reportedly the culmination of long-standing disputes between the families of Rohit and the accused, Vishal Sajjan Phalke (32), a resident of Hanumannagar, Ambegaon Khurd.

Following the crime, the Sangli Local Crime Investigation Team began collaborating with Pune Police to locate Vishal. A tip-off received by constable Ujwal Mokashi revealed that Vishal would be in the Khed Shivapur area. Acting on this information, police laid a trap and successfully arrested Vishal.

Vishal Phalke has a history of serious criminal activities. Eight cases, including murder, attempted murder, extortion, and illegal possession of weapons, are registered against him across multiple police stations, including Tasgaon, Sinhagad Road, Warje, Bibwewadi, and Bharti Vidyapeeth.

The successful operation was carried out under the leadership of Additional Police Commissioner Shailesh Balkawade, Deputy Commissioner of Police Nikhil Pingle, and Assistant Commissioner of Police Ganesh Ingle.

Key contributors to the operation included Police Inspector Pratap Mankar, Assistant Police Inspectors Ashish Kavathekar and Amol Rasal, and constables Ujwal Mokashi, Shankar Kumbhar, Sanjay Jadhav, and others.