PUNE: A woman employee of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and members of a census survey team were allegedly assaulted while carrying out National Census 2027 duties in Pune’s Minatai Thackeray Colony area, police said on Friday. According to officials, the incident took place under the jurisdiction of Swargate Police Station. An FIR has been registered against five identified accused and several unidentified persons for allegedly obstructing government work, assaulting public servants and outraging the modesty of a woman employee. The complainant, a PMC employee for the past 17 years, was currently assigned as an enumerator for National Census 2027 work. As per the complaint, on May 27, the woman employee had visited the residence of one Vikas Navnath More in Lane No. 14 of Minatai Thackeray Colony to collect census-related information. The family allegedly refused to cooperate and obstructed government work. The complainant further stated that she and another enumerator were verbally abused during the argument. Police said the situation escalated the next day when a PMC team, along with supervisors and other enumerators, returned to the locality to complete the census process and resolve the dispute. It is alleged that the accused attacked the team with kicks, punches and stones while the officials were leaving the area. In her complaint, the woman employee alleged that one of the accused held her hand and tore the sleeve of her blouse, thereby outraging her modesty. She also alleged that her mobile phone, wristwatch and gold chain went missing during the scuffle. Her son, who had accompanied the team for security purposes, was also allegedly assaulted and injured in the incident. Based on the complaint, Swargate Police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to obstruction of government duty, assault, molestation, causing injuries and theft. Further investigation is underway by Woman Police Sub-Inspector Sujata Jadhav of Swargate Police Station. The incident has triggered outrage among PMC employees, who have demanded strict action against the accused for allegedly attacking government officials engaged in census-related duties.(With Agency Inputs)
