Pune: A horrifying case of sexual assault has emerged from Pune, where a 26-year-old woman was raped inside a parked bus at the busy Swargate Bus Stand, just 100 meters from a police station. The incident took place between 5:45 AM and 6:30 AM on Tuesday when the woman, a domestic worker traveling to her home village of Phaltan in Satara, was misled by the accused, identified as 36-year-old Dattatraya Ramdas. CCTV footage revealed that Ramdas engaged the woman in conversation, addressing her as “didi” (sister), before luring her onto the dark, unoccupied bus under the pretense that it was scheduled to take her to her destination. Once inside, he locked the doors and assaulted her. After the attack, the traumatized woman boarded another bus where she informed a friend, who urged her to report the crime to the police. Authorities have since launched an extensive manhunt, deploying eight special teams and a canine unit to track down the suspect, who has a prior criminal record.
The brutal crime has sparked outrage across Maharashtra, with opposition parties holding the state government accountable for the rising cases of sexual violence. Congress leader Harshwardhan Sapkal criticized Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also oversees the Home Department, for failing to ensure women’s safety despite promoting welfare schemes. Drawing a parallel with the 2012 Nirbhaya case, he argued that while the government offers financial aid to women, it neglects their fundamental security concerns. NCP MP Supriya Sule also condemned the incident, questioning how such a crime could occur in an area that is supposedly under regular police patrol. She asserted that the lack of fear among criminals reflects a failure of the law enforcement system in Pune. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, staged a protest at the Swargate Bus Stand, demanding accountability from authorities. Party leader Vasant More and other members stormed the bus stand’s office, which had already been vandalized in response to public anger.
The police have pledged a thorough investigation, including probing the role of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) in allowing such a lapse in security. Officials are examining CCTV footage from multiple angles to piece together the events leading up to the assault and determine if there were any lapses in security at the depot. The case has reignited the debate on women’s safety in public spaces, especially in urban areas with high police presence. As political leaders continue to point fingers, the victim’s ordeal underscores the persistent dangers faced by women and the urgent need for stricter enforcement of safety measures in public transport hubs.
