Pune: The rape of a woman inside a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus parked at Pune’s Swargate Bus Depot has caused a political furor in the state. After the incident, workers of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) ransacked the security office at the depot, while a few political leaders also condemned it. Following this, the state government has convened an emergency meeting on Thursday to talk about the safety of women on public transport.
Meanwhile, the Pune police have begun probing the case, as some CCTV footage has also come to light, in which the accused and the victim can be seen moving in the bus. Following the incident, the Maharashtra government has instructed all agencies to be on high alert with regards to the safety of female passengers. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has arranged an emergency meeting on February 27th at 12.30 PM at the state secretariat in Mumbai to discuss the matter.
Since the incident, protests have escalated. They threw stones that broke windowpanes and furniture inside the security office at the depot; Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) workers ransacked the depot, while in another part of the depot female activists shouted slogans against the BJP-led Maharashtra government, blaming its administration for not ensuring women’s safety.
Simultaneously, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken cognisance of the case and demanded immediate action from Maharashtra Police. The commission has also sought a detailed report, with a copy of the FIR, within three days.
Following the public outcry, authorities suspended 23 security guards stationed at the bus depot. The questioning will include the Swargate Depot Manager and the Traffic Controller who were on duty during the incident for not providing security. We expect to publish a report on the case within a week.
Full text: In a statement, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said he was “deeply upset and angry” over the incident, which he called “tragic, infuriating, and shameful.” He further added that a civilised society would never tolerate such a heinous crime. He said, “This is a crime that does not deserve forgiveness, and its perpetrator deserves no punishment other than death.”
In addition, Pawar said that he had given directions to Pune Police Commissioner to supervise the laws and not delay in acting against the accused. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also expressed serious concern over the incident and ordered the probe to be fast-tracked. The Women and Child Development Minister, also directing the State Women’s Commission, is to give psychological and legal aid to the victim.
As per police reports, the crime has occurred inside an MSRTC Shivshahi AC bus at the Swargate Bus Depot. The accused, 36-year-old Dattatreya Ramdas Gade, has a history of similar offences, with several cases of theft and chainsnatching already in the police register against him. Eight teams have been formed to trace and arrest him, say authorities.
The incident has drawn strong criticism from opposition leaders against the state government. They have especially lambasted CM Fadnavis, saying the home department is incapable of containing surging crime in Pune. The crime was particularly shocking because it occurred near Swargate, which is reputed to be one of the state’s busiest intersections.
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Supriya Sule, Baramati MP, took a jibe at the government, saying that a police post is located close to the incident spot and police patrols are conducted in the area regularly. “It establielements antisocial components are not afraid of the rules. struggled to effectively manage home department has failed to handle crime in Pune. She also requested that the court expedite the case.
In a similar vein, Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal noted the disturbing increase in sexual assaults in the state. He further said, “MSRTC buses are the lifeline of Maharashtra, and now a crime of this scale has been done in one of them.