Pune: A series of robberies by drug-addicted thieves in the Pune railway station area has raised concerns about passenger safety. In one recent incident, a man was attacked with a blade after refusing to hand over money. This marks the third robbery incident in the area in just one week, leaving commuters fearful for their safety.

The incident occurred on Saturday (January 4) night at around 11:30 PM when Vaditha Govinda Naik (28), a resident of Bibvewadi, was leaving the Tukaram Shinde vehicle parking lot near Pune Station. A thief stopped him and demanded money. When Naik refused to comply, the thief snatched ₹800 from his pocket. Naik resisted, and in retaliation, the thief attacked him with a blade. Naik screamed for help, prompting the thief to flee the scene.

Naik has since filed a complaint at Bundgarden Police Station, and based on his statement, a case has been registered against the thief. Assistant Police Inspector Nandkumar Naik is leading the investigation into the case.

This robbery is part of a worrying trend of thefts and violence at Pune Station. In another incident, a thief used a drug-laced handkerchief to render a young man unconscious and steal ₹43,000 in cash from him. Just four days earlier, a rickshaw driver and his accomplice had robbed a young man from Chakan at the station.

The rise in such criminal activities has drawn attention to the increasing presence of drug-addicted thieves in the area. These criminals are known to intimidate passengers, steal cash, and snatch mobile phones, making the Pune Railway Station a dangerous place for commuters.