Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Feb 26: A 26-year-old woman was reportedly raped inside a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus at the Swargate bus stand in Pune, prompting widespread outrage and condemnation. Authorities have identified the accused as a history-sheeter and are currently searching for him.
The harrowing incident took place early Tuesday morning when the woman was at the bus stand waiting to board a bus to her hometown in Satara district. According to police, the accused, who was loitering in the area, misled the woman into boarding a bus, claiming it was headed to her destination. Once inside, the woman was allegedly raped before the assailant fled the scene.
Afterward, the victim managed to board another bus and immediately contacted a friend, sharing the details of the attack. She later filed an official complaint with the police.
The incident has sparked severe backlash from political leaders across the state, with both ruling and opposition parties voicing their concerns over the rising number of sexual assault cases.
Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar took to social media, calling the incident "shocking" and highlighting the failure of the Pune Police to apprehend the accused. He also questioned the responsibility of the MSRTC administration and the police in ensuring the safety of women in public spaces. “What were the MSRTC employees doing while this was happening? Where is the Transport Minister?” Wadettiwar posted.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Samajwadi Party MP Supriya Sule expressed her outrage over the incident, emphasizing the irony of the crime happening near a police post in a busy bus stand. She criticized the authorities for the lack of safety measures and demanded that the case be fast-tracked. "The Home Department has not been successful in stopping such crimes. This incident shows how law and order have deteriorated. The accused must face the strictest punishment," Sule asserted.
Shiv Sena spokesperson Krishna Hegde also condemned the crime, describing it as "horrific and disturbing." He expressed confidence that the police would soon apprehend the serial offender.
Harshwardhan Sapkal, the state Congress chief, blamed the ruling Mahayuti government for failing to prioritize women’s safety and security, asserting that the state has become an unsafe place for women.
Pune Deputy Commissioner of Police Smartana Patil confirmed that the accused is a history-sheeter with previous charges filed against him by Pune Rural Police. Authorities have launched an extensive search to locate the suspect.
The attack has raised serious concerns about the safety of women in public places and the growing threat posed by such heinous crimes despite the presence of law enforcement in busy areas.