Pune, February 26, 2025-The Swargate Bus Stand of Pune has borne witness to some gruesome incident, resulting in protests all across the city and firor. A young woman, 26-years old, was allegedly raped inside a stationary state-transport bus, prompting public protests along with some damage caused due to a vandalism spree initiated by political leaders.
The Incident
Between 5 – 5:45 in the morning on Tuesday, the victim was at Byogate intending to take her bus home to Phaltan in the Satara district. While waiting, the girl was approached by a man who established a conversation with her, apparently addressing her as ‘Didi’ (sister). He prompted her to think, misleading her that the bus to Phaltan would leave from a different platform, luring her to follow him to an empty Shivshahi air-conditioned bus, parked in a far-off corner of the bus stand.
Though she hesitated initially due to the scant light inside the bus, after persuasion, she got in, the man claiming other passengers were asleep, which explained the dark when they were in. Once inside, he locked the door and sexually assaulted her and then fled the scene.
The young woman, shaken out of her wits, caught another bus for her journey back to Phaltan, and there confided in a friend about the incident. Taking the friend’s advice, she got off within city limits and reported the crime at the Swargate police station. The complaint was quite promptly converted into an F.I.R. with a case of rape charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and investigations were initiated by the police.
Manhunt for the Accused
The identity of the prima facie suspect, Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, 36, a retired resident of Shikrapur, is not unfamiliar owing to his previous criminal record involving cases of theft and chain snatching. The CCTV footage recovered from the bus stand also matched the verbal statements of the victim on Gade leading her towards the bus. Therefore, eight teams were formed, and a DNA dog unit was summoned in an attempt to catch the looming absconding suspect.
Public Outrage and Political Reactions
Public outrage resulting from this incident has triggered protests and demonstrations around Pune. On Wednesday, Shiv Sena leader Vasant More, with some of his party members, staged a protest at the Swargate Bus Stand. The protestors vandalized the bus stand office, smashed windows, and expressed anger over this incident. A video released by news agencies showed a raging protest.
Opposition leaders took this opportunity to criticize the state government for its failure to ensure public safety. Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal pointed out that the ever-rising number of rape cases in Maharashtra was drawing parallels with the infamous Nirbhaya case in Delhi while questioning the government’s priorities-drawing attention to schemes supplying financial help to women while overlooking the problem of public safety.
The incident was similarly criticized by the NCP leader and Baramati MP Supriya Sule, highlighting that the very fact that such an assault happened near a routinely patrolled area indicates absolute and comprehensive disregard on the part of anti-social elements. She demanded that this incident should be fast-tracked and that the accused be served just punishment.
Security Concerns at Public Transport Hubs
This incident raises real concerns about the safety and security measures in place at public transport hubs, especially those managed by the MSRTC. The Swargate Bus Stand is among the largest in the region, with an immense footfall on a daily basis. Passersby, especially women, have expressed apprehension with regard to their safety at such vantage points. Authorities are forced to reevaluate the current security measures in place to see to it that no such incidents occur in the days to come.
