Pune Bus Rape Case: Pune police have arrested 37-year-old Dattatray Gade, the main suspect in the horrific rape of a 26-year-old woman inside a state transport bus at Swargate bus station. His capture followed an intense 75-hour search operation involving drones, sniffer dogs, and multiple police teams.

How the Accused Was Tracked Down

Gade, a repeat offender with multiple theft and robbery cases against him, fled to his hometown in Shirur after allegedly assaulting the woman. To avoid being traced, he turned off his phone and kept moving between locations.

The police made a breakthrough on Thursday night when Gade arrived at a relative’s house around 10:30 pm. His family, aware of the allegations against him, promptly informed the authorities. Meanwhile, officers found a shirt he had discarded, which was then used to provide sniffer dogs with his scent. The dogs successfully followed his trail.

Soon after, local villagers reported that Gade had knocked on a house asking for food and water. Acting on this tip, police intensified their search and eventually found him hiding in a paddy field. He was arrested close to midnight.

Before fleeing, Gade took a bottle of water and reportedly admitted to his family, "I have made a big mistake, and I need to surrender," as per NDTV reports.

Authorities also noted that Gade had a ligature mark on his neck, raising suspicions that he might have attempted suicide before his arrest.

A senior police official confirmed, "Gade was brought to Pune by 2 am, underwent a medical examination, and was formally taken into custody. He will be presented in court later today."

To locate the fugitive, Pune police had deployed drones and a dog squad in Gunat village, with 13 teams actively involved in the search. Joint Commissioner of Police Ranjan Kumar Sharma also visited the area to oversee the operation.

"Our team temporarily halted the search at night, but when we received information that he had asked for food at a house, we rushed to the location. Unfortunately, he managed to escape again. The family provided him with water, but later alerted us about his whereabouts," an official stated.

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Following this lead, the police resumed their efforts and eventually caught him hiding in a nearby paddy field.

Speaking to the media, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said, "The initial medical report shows a ligature mark on the accused’s neck, suggesting a possible suicide attempt. We are waiting for the final report."

The commissioner also praised the residents of Gunat village for their cooperation in helping law enforcement.

The accused is scheduled to appear in court, and police have assured that a special team will handle the investigation. "We will push for a fast-track trial and appoint a counsellor for the survivor," Kumar stated.

In response to the incident, authorities have conducted a thorough security review at Swargate bus station. "We are assessing security risks, bus door locks, dark spots, and other vulnerabilities. These findings will be shared with the state transport department, and corrective measures will be implemented soon," he added.

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Investigations have revealed that Gade has a long history of criminal activity, with at least six cases registered against him in Pune and Ahilyanagar districts, including at Shirur and Shikarpur police stations. He had been out on bail since 2019 for one of these offences.

Pune Bus Rape Case: What Happened?

The horrific incident took place in the early hours of Tuesday when the victim, a hospital counsellor, was waiting for a bus to Phaltan in Satara district. Gade, pretending to be a bus conductor, approached her and asked where she was heading. The accused, posing as a bus conductor, called the victim "Didi" and asked where she was headed. He then misled her by saying that her bus was parked in another area and offered to guide her.

Once they reached an MSRTC luxury bus, Gade locked the doors, switched off the lights, and allegedly assaulted her. The victim initially hesitated to board the bus, but the accused convinced her that it was the correct vehicle. Initially, the survivor hesitated to board the bus as the lights were off. However, Gade convinced her and allegedly raped her.

Gade has been formally arrested and presented in court. Police are collecting further evidence, and the case is expected to be fast-tracked to ensure justice for the survivor.

With PTI Inputs