Pune Woman Stabbed To Death In Office Parking Lot, As Bystanders Watch

A man hacked his colleague to death at an office parking lot in Pune on January 7, while passersby quietly watched. A disturbing video of the crime has been circulating online, where 30-year-old Krishna Satyanarayan Kanojia can be seen stabbing 28-year-old Shubhada Kodare with a cleaver in broad daylight. The Times of India reported that the two were allegedly involved in a financial dispute.

Murder In Broad Daylight

Krishna Satyanarayan Kanojia and Shubhada Kodare worked in the Accounts section of a BPO in Pune. According to TOI, the assailant targeted her because she 'refused to' repay him money she had borrowed from him under 'false pretences'. He was arrested in Ramwadi by Yerawada police at approximately 6:30 p.m.

In a blurry one-minute video posted to social media, Kanojia was seen brutally stabbing Kodare, while at least 10 people witnessed the crime. None of the bystanders intervened while he attacked her. Some only subdued him after he discarded the clover. Kodare succumbed to her injuries later at a private hospital, while Kanojia has been arrested.

As the incident caught widespread attention, the National Commission for Women (NCW) called for quick and decisive action against Kanojia. NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has sent a letter to Maharashtra's Director General of Police, Rashmi Shukla, urging for an immediate and thorough investigation, according to Press Trust of India.

The NCW has instructed the state police to file charges against the accused and submit an Action Taken Report, along with a copy of the FIR, within 48 hours. The incident has sparked outrage about the 'bystander effect'-- a situation when when people are less likely to help someone in an emergency when others are present. 

She Could Have Been Saved, Had Someone Stepped In

In India, many bystanders possess a "humein kya? unka personal matter hai" (Let it go. It is their private matter) attitude, which has led to grave results in many public violence cases. Such indifference is a dangerous precedent, especially in crimes against women, who are already vulnerable to systemic and cultural oppression.

This tragic incident from Pune raises critical questions about societal apathy towards violent crimes. The disconcerting fact that more than dozens of people silently watched the attack and refused to intervene until it was too late underscores a dire need for fostering a culture of proactive intervention, bolstered by legal safeguards.