Authorities in Pune have arrested a person suspected of raping a 26-year-old girl inside a government-operated bus stationed on the Swargate depot, following an intensive search operation involving a number of police stations.
The suspect, recognized as Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, 37, a resident of Gunat village in Shirur, was apprehended early Friday, in keeping with the police. Gade had been on the run since Tuesday, when the alleged assault passed off within the Swargate depot, one in every of Pune’s busiest bus terminals.
Authorities had mentioned the incident occurred at round 5:30 am Tuesday, when the sufferer, who had been ready to board a bus to her hometown in Satara, was approached by Gade. He allegedly lured the lady to an empty, air-conditioned Shivshahi bus, a part of the Maharashtra State Street Transport Company fleet, the place he assaulted her. The bus’s home windows have been sealed shut, stopping any fast exterior assist.
After the assault, the lady reported the crime to Swargate police, resulting in the submitting of a primary data report (FIR). Investigators shortly launched a seek for Gade, utilizing CCTV footage from the depot and different places to establish him. Their investigation revealed that Gade had fled to his dwelling in Shirur after the assault.
In a joint operation, groups from Pune metropolis and Pune rural police scoured the world round Gunat village, looking close by sugarcane fields and deploying drones and a canine squad to trace the suspect. Gade was finally arrested within the early hours of Saturday.
Gade isn’t any stranger to the regulation, police mentioned. He has a historical past of prison exercise, with six earlier instances in opposition to him, together with prices of theft and cell phone theft in Pune and Ahmednagar. In 2020, authorities took preventive measures in opposition to him below Part 110 of the Felony Process Code, which offers with recurring offenders. On the time of his arrest, Gade was out on bail and residing along with his household, together with his spouse, younger son, brother, and oldsters in Gunat.
The accused is at present in police custody and is anticipated to face a number of prices associated to the assault. Authorities are persevering with their investigation, with extra particulars anticipated within the coming days.
