Pune bus rape: Request for water, food led to accused's arrest in Shirur

A REQUEST for food and water from a house led to the arrest of a 37-year-old man on the run after allegedly raping a woman inside a parked bus in Pune, police said on Friday (28).

The accused, Dattatray Ramdas Gade, was apprehended from a paddy field following an extensive search operation with the help of drones and sniffer dogs around midnight in Shirur tehsil.

Pune police have said a ligature mark was found on the accused's neck, raising suspicion that he might have attempted suicide.

A senior police officer said, "Gade was brought to Pune by 2 am. He was sent for a medical examination and formally arrested. The accused will be produced in court later in the day."

Gade, a history-sheeter, fled to his home town Shirur after allegedly sexually assaulting a 26-year-old woman inside a state transport bus at Swargate bus station early Tuesday.

According to sources, the accused switched off his mobile phone, but the police managed to reach his village and found out he had visited a house requesting water.

Pune police on Thursday deployed drones and a dog squad in Gunat village to nab the accused, and 13 teams were part of the search operation, an official said.

Joint commissioner of police Ranjan Kumar Sharma also visited the village and briefed his officers, he said.

"The search operation in sugarcane fields with drones and dog squads was stopped at night. However, we received information that Gade had visited a house asking for food. We rushed to the spot, but he managed to flee. The family in the house gave him a bottle of water," the official said.

He said the family informed the police about the accused's presence in the area, after which the police team resumed the search.

The official said the accused was seen hiding in a paddy field nearby and was apprehended.

Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar told reporters, "According to the primary medical report, a ligature mark was found on the accused. It is suspected that he attempted suicide. We are waiting for the final report."

The senior official thanked the residents of Gunat village who helped the police in the search operation.

"The accused will be produced in court today. A special unit will be formed to investigate the incident. We will try to take the case to a fast-track court, and a special councillor will be appointed," he said.

Kumar said the security and safety audit of the Swargate bus depot has concluded.

"We have analysed points such as security, doors of buses, dark spots and more. We will discuss these with the state transport department, and a formal action will be implemented soon."

Gade is named in half a dozen theft, robbery and chain-snatching cases in Pune and Ahilyanagar districts. He has been out on bail since 2019 in one of the offences.

Shakti bill

The opposition Congress and NCP (SP) on Friday (28) raised concerns over the rape of a woman in Pune and demanded that the Maharashtra government implement the Shakti bill.

Former state home minister and NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh told reporters that the Shakti bill has provisions for strict punishment for crimes against women.

It was introduced and passed by the Maha Vikas Aghadi government four years ago, but is still pending approval from the Central government.

"The existing laws in Maharashtra have no provision for capital punishment in such cases," he said.

Congress legislature party leader Vijay Wadettiwar said the non-implementation of the Shakti bill is the Mahayuti government's failure.

"The President's assent for the act has not been given, and now the bill passed by the state legislature will be withdrawn.

"We demand that the government make amendments to the bill and ensure its passage during the budget session, which begins on March 3," he told reporters in Nagpur.

Wadettiwar criticised deputy home minister Yogesh Kadam for making statements regarding the victim of the Pune bus rape case.

Kadam had earlier said, "A pervert sweet talks and brainwashes a woman. There is no argument or use of force. Whatever happened, happened silently. So people around could not be alerted."

"The minister is shielding the accused. Do the chief minister and deputy chief ministers agree with such comments?" Wadettivar asked.

Kadam had also blamed the private security guards at the Swargate MSRTC bus depot for not being vigilant.

When asked about the depot managing earlier writing to the police about anti-social elements at Swargate bus depot, Kadam asserted "You cannot run away (from the responsibility of security at the facility) by submitting a letter". (PTI)