• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Pune Rape Case: A 26-year-old woman was allegedly raped inside a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus at Pune’s Swargate bus stand, officials said on Wednesday. The incident occurred early Tuesday morning, in the middle of the busy transport hub, barely 100 metres from a police station, when the woman was at the Swargate bus stand waiting to board a bus to her hometown in Satara district.

The accused has been identified as Dattatraya Ramdas, a 36-year-old history-sheeter, who was caught on CCTV footage but remains at large. Police have launched an extensive manhunt, forming eight special teams and deploying a canine sniffer unit to track him down.

The accused, who was roaming around the premises, allegedly approached the woman and misled her into boarding another Shivshahi bus, claiming it was bound for her destination. Trusting him, the woman boarded the bus, following which the accused forced himself inside and assaulted her before fleeing.

ALSO READ: Bihar Cabinet Expansion: Seven New BJP MLAs Inducted As Ministers In Nitish Govt Ahead Of Assembly Elections

The traumatised woman later boarded another bus to her hometown and narrated the incident to a friend over the phone. Upon reaching, she filed a police complaint.

Pune Deputy Commissioner of Police Smartana Patil confirmed that the accused is a repeat offender with a prior criminal record under Pune Rural Police. Authorities are analysing CCTV footage and gathering evidence to locate him. The police have assured that efforts are underway to apprehend the accused at the earliest.

ALSO READ: Hazaribagh: Communal Clash Erupts Over Loudspeaker On Mahashivratri; BJP Blames 'Bangladeshi Infiltrators'

Oppn Questions Law And Order Situation

The incident has sparked outrage, with both ruling and opposition parties condemning the crime and questioning the state government’s commitment to women's safety.

Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar criticised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, citing an increase in rape and molestation cases. "A shocking incident has taken place at Swargate bus station. The accused is still at large, while the police were quick to recover an aircraft belonging to a former minister’s son," he said, calling it a failure of the state’s home department.

NCP-SP MP Supriya Sule called the incident "infuriating", raising concerns about the lack of fear of law among criminals. She pointed out that the crime occurred despite a police post nearby and regular patrolling. Sule demanded strict punishment for the accused and urged for a fast-track trial.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena spokesperson Krishna Hegde termed the crime "horrific and disturbing", stating that the serial offender has been identified and police will apprehend him soon.