Pune: Rupali Chakankar, President of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women, condemned the recent rape incident at Pune’s Swargate bus depot, calling it “very unfortunate.” She assured that strict action would be taken against the perpetrator. Chakankar noted that the victim promptly filed a complaint at the Swargate Police Station, leading to quick action from the authorities. She expects the accused to be apprehended within the next two to three days.
Chakankar expressed concern that after such incidents, public attention tends to fade, with candle marches and media coverage losing momentum over time. She emphasized the importance of teaching women self-defense and maintaining constant awareness. The State Commission for Women has mandated that swift and stringent measures be taken against the accused.
Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar criticized the BJP government, claiming that law and order in Maharashtra is deteriorating. He described the incident as shameful and asserted that public trust in the police and home department has eroded, urging the Chief Minister to address these issues.
Meanwhile, the Pune Police have initiated a manhunt for the suspect, identified as Dattatray Ramdas Gade, who is currently evading capture. The incident reportedly occurred on Monday morning when the 26-year-old victim, a working woman, was waiting for her bus. The accused misled her by claiming the bus was parked elsewhere and led her to a parked vehicle, where he allegedly assaulted her. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 2) Smarthana Patil confirmed that the victim is currently stable and that efforts are underway to locate the suspect.