Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde vehemently criticized the rape of a 27-year-old woman within a bus at Pune’s Swargate Bus Stand. During his remarks on Thursday, he promised that the accused will not be let off the hook, no matter the political allegiance.
“Pune accident is extremely tragic. Whoever is the accused, irrespective of which party he is from, will not be exempted. Those kinds of individuals should be hanged,” said Shinde. He also instructed the auction of the wrecked bus in the depot.
Incident Took Place Near Police Station
Early on Tuesday morning between 5:45 and 6 AM, the dastardly crime took place just 100 meters away from a police station. The victim was a domestic help waiting for a bus to Satara when 36-year-old Dattatraya Ramdas Gade deceived her. Saying that a stationary bus would drop her at her destination, he got her on board, closed the door, and raped her.
Gade, who has a past conviction for theft, robbery, and snatching of chains, has been free on bail since 2019. Pune police have initiated a large-scale search, setting up 13 teams and declaring a reward of ₹1 lakh to anyone providing clues to arrest him.
Opposition Slams State Government
The government of Maharashtra is incurring sharp criticism from the opposition regarding the incident. The Sharad Pawar faction of NCP organized demonstrations outside the Swargate police station, and Maharashtra Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal blamed the government for giving priority to welfare schemes over women’s security.
“When the Nirbhaya gangrape occurred in Delhi, people overthrew the regime. You [BJP-led Maharashtra government] introduce the ‘Laadki Bahin’ scheme for women but turn a deaf ear towards people’s basic issues,” Sapkal added.
Ajit Pawar: Only Death Penalty for the Accused
Maharashtra’s other Deputy CM, Ajit Pawar, referred to the crime as “unforgivable” and sought the harshest punishment. “The rape at the Swargate bus stop is very unfortunate, painful, infuriating, and shameful for all in civilized society. The act of the accused is unforgivable, and there can be no other penalty for him except death,” Pawar said.
He also instructed the Pune Police Commissioner to personally monitor the investigation and get the accused arrested immediately.
Security Measures Tightened
Following the incident, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik declared a security audit of all bus depots in Maharashtra. The security personnel at Swargate depot has been changed, and it has been decided to dispose of non-functional buses at the earliest.
Manhunt for the Accused
Pune Police have come out with a picture of the suspect and are putting in extra efforts to trace him. “Lights were dimmed in the bus when the victim thought twice about getting in, but the accused tricked her by saying people were asleep inside,” said an officer.
With 13 special teams following his trail, authorities are optimistic about an early arrest. Meanwhile, the victim has been treated medically and provided with counseling assistance.