 "Pune: 4 charred to death, 10 left with burn injuries in revenge act by 'mistreated' driver")
In a shocking incident, police said on Thursday that the fire on a minibus in Pune’s IT hub, Hinjewadi, was not an accident but a planned attack by the 56-year-old driver. The incident, which happened on Wednesday, killed four employees of a printing press company and injured 10 others.
The fire broke out in a Tempo Traveller hired by a Pune-based graphic design startup while en route to the office.
Initially thought to be an accident, suspicions arose when the driver gave contradictory statements and emerged unscathed from the burning vehicle. Under intense questioning, he eventually confessed to setting the vehicle on fire.
Police had initially said the fire could have started due to a short circuit. DCP (Zone 2) Vishal Gaikwad said, “Initially, we had registered a case of accidental deaths. After analysing various leads and the way the fire spread, we became sceptical about how a fire sparked by a short circuit could escalate to such an intense level so rapidly. We examined the vehicle and carried out forensic analysis.”
Murder plot unveiled
The police said the investigation revealed that the driver had carefully planned the attack. He used a benzene solution and a matchbox to start the fire inside the vehicle. As the flames spread, he quickly jumped out, leaving the passengers trapped inside.
The minibus, still in motion, continued for 200 metres before crashing into a tree. The driver later confessed that he had committed the act as revenge for the alleged mistreatment he faced from the office-goers. To ensure no one could escape, he deliberately locked the back door before setting the fire.
CCTV footage
CCTV footage from a nearby camera confirmed the sequence of events. The video showed the driver jumping out of the vehicle immediately after setting it on fire.
While some passengers managed to escape, others remained trapped inside due to the locked rear door. Police have arrested the driver, and further investigation is underway.
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