The Pune Serial Killers | A True Crime Story by Sujata Sapre and Anandajit Goswami

 The Pune Serial Killers | A Shocking True Story of how a College Gang Terrorised an Entire City| A True Crime Story by Sujata Sapre and Anandajit Goswami

The psychology of any person depicts it's behavior but to get a mindmap of terror creating youth is horrifying. I was intrigued to know about the Joshi Abyankar murder cases. So I grabbed this thrilling yet thought provoking book, "The Pune Serial Killers".

This book narrates about the activities of four college students whose gradual involvement in robbery, kidnapping, and murders led to further escalation of crimes.

Their curiousity to enjoy pain and go to extreme levels to prove themselves correct is vividly stated. Their childhood behavior and how they reacted showed prior signs. But here parenting also matters.

The crimes they committed were well planned by them. Each crime spread fear around the city, as people did not know who would be the next victim. The public trauma towards killings was palpable.

The authors clearly describe how the gang prepared themselves for the crimes, how police slowly collected clues, and how the investigations revealed the truth behind the incidents. The inclusion of real newspaper excerpts, archival photographs, and meticulously mapped timelines lends a stark authenticity to every single chapter.

What I admired most was the deep dive into criminal psychology, exploring group dynamics, dominance, and manipulation to answer the terrifying question of why this happened. It forces you to confront difficult, unsettling questions about human behavior and societal pressures.

Quotes from the book that piqued me:

🦀 Thrill-seeking is a continuous need in many serial killers. It was not known then that Rajendra Jakkal would become the infamous leader of the serial killing gang. No one knew that they would remain imprinted on the psyche of Punekars even decades after Rajendra and his mates were awarded capital punishment.

🦀 Serial killers enjoy power, control, and dominance. Defying authority is sort of a ‘fun act’ that showcases power. It is a way of stating: ‘You have no power over me.’

I appreciated that the authors tried to explain the thinking and behaviour behind these actions instead of only listing incidents. Each chapter reveals a perception of absorbing facts and how to know it is going against or for the well being of the child.

Overall, it is an interesting and incredible read.

Purchase here.

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