After days of searching, Pune police arrested Dattatray Ramdas Gade, who is accused of raping a 26-year-old woman on a Shivshahi bus. The police found Gade in a village near Pune late at night. Thirteen police teams spread out in different areas, using drones and dogs to find him, and a reward of ₹1 lakh was offered to anyone who could help.
What Happened in Pune
The crime took place on Tuesday morning when the woman was waiting at the bus depot to go to Phaltan, about 100 km away. Gade approached her, pretending her bus was at a different location. He led her to an empty bus inside the depot, followed her inside, assaulted her, and then ran away.
Gade, 37, has a long history of crime, including theft and robbery. He had been released on bail for another crime in 2019, raising concerns about repeat offenders and how the justice system handles them.
Government Action
Maharashtra’s Transport Minister, Pratap Sarnaik, is taking action to improve safety at bus stations. He ordered a security check at all bus depots in the state. “The safety of passengers, especially women, is very important,” he said. The government plans to remove unregistered buses and increase the number of female security guards. They also want to fill a key security position in the State Transport Corporation with a police officer.
A departmental inquiry is looking into the Assistant Transport Superintendent and the Bus Depot Manager to see if they failed to keep the bus depot safe.
Public Reaction
The incident has upset many people in Pune, leading to protests. Members of the NCP-SCP party held rallies, calling for strict punishment for Gade and demanding better safety measures for women. “The government needs to take action now. We can’t let these crimes happen at bus stations,” said one protester.
While the government has promised changes, it’s essential that they actually make our public transport safer. Everyone is watching to see if these security promises will turn into real improvements.
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