A Pune man, Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, is on the run after allegedly raping a young woman near a police station at Swargate Bus Stand. The attack occurred while the victim was waiting for a bus to Satara district. Gade, who has a criminal record, escaped by hiding in a vegetable truck and reportedly changed clothes before fleeing to a nearby sugarcane field. Police have organized 13 teams, employing sniffer dogs and drones to locate him, offering a Rs 1 lakh reward. Authorities, including Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, promise justice and advocate for severe punishment for the perpetrator.
Pune:
A man from Pune, wanted for allegedly raping a young woman just 100 metres from a police station and inside a bus parked at the Swargate Bus Stand, may be taking refuge in a sugarcane field near his hometown, police sources informed NDTV on Thursday afternoon.
According to sources, the police have deployed sniffer dogs and drones in an extensive search operation across the expansive sugarcane fields. Drones are necessary due to the tall plants, which can reach heights of up to 10 feet, complicating ground searches for the police.
It was reported that the suspect, identified as Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, managed to evade the police dragnet by hiding in a truck transporting vegetables, allowing him to travel back to his hometown where he changed his attire.
The police have organized 13 specialized teams, including eight from the Crime Branch, to locate him and have conducted interviews with family members and acquaintances. A reward of Rs 1 lakh has also been announced for information leading to his capture.
This morning, junior Home Minister Yogesh Kadam mentioned that Gade’s ‘likely location’ has been identified.
In the meantime, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has pledged that justice will be served for the victim and that Gade will face severe consequences. He also supported fellow Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s demand for capital punishment.
READ | “Such People Should Be Hanged”: Eknath Shinde On Pune Bus Rapist
“Individuals like this deserve to be hanged,” he stated.
Pune Bus Stand Rape
The assault occurred between 5:45 and 6:00 am on Tuesday.
The victim, a domestic worker, was waiting for a bus to her hometown in Satara district when Gade approached her, referring to her as ‘didi‘ or ‘sister.’
Gade asked about her destination and convinced her that a bus parked in a secluded area of the busy depot would take her there. CCTV footage captured them walking towards that bus.
READ | Pune Woman Raped In Bus By Man On Bail Since 2019
Outside the bus, which had no lights on, the woman expressed hesitation, but was assured that it was due to other passengers being asleep. She was encouraged to board the bus.
Once inside, she reported that Gade entered, locked the door, and assaulted her. After the incident, Gade fled while the woman confided in a friend, who urged her to report the crime to the police.
The police promptly filed a complaint and reviewed the CCTV footage, which initiated their investigation. This will also involve probing how the bus depot management allowed such an incident to occur on their premises.
READ | Pune Woman Raped In Bus Parked 100 Metres From Police Station
Facing criticism for inadequate security, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation has replaced the security personnel at the depot and commenced its own inquiry, with a report expected in a week.
The MSRTC operates one of the three public transport systems in the country, boasting a fleet of over 14,000 buses, and serves more than 5.5 million passengers daily.
Gade, aged 36, has a criminal history, facing charges for at least six incidents of theft, robbery, and chain-snatching in Pune and the adjacent Ahilyanagar district.
He has been out on bail since 2019.
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