A 26-year-old woman was allegedly raped inside a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) Shiv Shahi bus at the Swargate bus stop in Pune, sparking protests and political outrage.
The incident, which took place in the early hours of Tuesday, has raised serious concerns over women's safety in the city.
On Wednesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Vasant More led a group of protesters to the Swargate bus stop, where they vandalised a security office in response to the crime.
Party workers smashed window panes and damaged furniture, while women activists raised slogans against the BJP-led Maharashtra government.
More defended the vandalism, stating that the security office had failed in its duty to prevent such an attack. "If a woman is raped in front of a security cabin, nobody has the right to sit there," he told the media.
The incident has led to sharp criticism from the Opposition, who have accused the Maharashtra government and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis of failing to ensure women's safety.
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) leader and Baramati MP Supriya Sule condemned the government’s inaction, highlighting the presence of a police post near the crime scene.
"There is a police post nearby, and the area is routinely patrolled. Still, such an assault takes place at Swargate, which shows that anti-social elements do not have any fear of the law. The home department has failed to curb crime in Pune. The trial of this case should be held in a fast-track court, and the accused must receive severe punishment," she said.
According to police, the suspect, identified as 36-year-old Dattatraya Gade, remains on the run. Eight police teams have been deployed to track him down.
Gade has a criminal record, with multiple cases of theft and chain-snatching registered against him.
The woman was waiting at the Swargate bus stop for her bus to Phaltan in Satara when the accused allegedly approached her. Posing as a helpful bystander, he misled her into believing that her bus was stationed at another platform.
He then took her to an empty Shiv Shahi bus and allegedly raped her before fleeing.
The attack has fuelled public outrage, with demands for stricter safety measures at transport hubs. Protesters and activists have urged the government to enhance security at bus stops, ensure better surveillance, and take immediate steps to prevent such crimes in the future.
The Maharashtra government is yet to respond to the allegations made by the Opposition. Meanwhile, the police continue their search for the accused, with officials stating that all efforts are being made to apprehend him as soon as possible.
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