Months after the city was shaken by the gang rape of a girl student in the Bopdev Ghat area of Pune, another shocking incident has occurred where a girl was raped inside an MSRTC bus parked at Swargate Bus Station in Pune.

Swargate is one of the largest bus junctions of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC).

Rape leads to huge political uproar

The news of the rape has sparked significant political uproar in the city, with leaders such as Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Sushma Andhare and former Kasba MLA Ravindra Dhangekar slamming the city police. This comes just a day after a boy was killed in Kothrud and a BJP worker was assaulted by members of a gang.

NCP MP Supriya Sule took to X and wrote, "Very infuriating! A case of sexual assault on a young woman has come to light in a busy bus stand area like Swargate. Notably, there is a police post near the Swargate bus stand. Moreover, police personnel patrol the bus stand from time to time. Still, the fact that the accused dared to commit such a heinous crime shows that criminals have no fear of the law. The question has also been raised whether there is no safe place for women in this state. Serious crimes are happening here and there every day in Pune. The Home Department has not been successful in stopping them. This incident is a reflection of the way in which the law and order situation has deteriorated. The accused in this case should be given the strictest punishment. For this, we demand that this case be tried in a fast-track court."

Dhangekar said, "The incident of a young woman's rape on a bus at Swargate bus station is extremely shocking. The Swargate Bus Station administration and Swargate Police Station officials should treat this incident with utmost seriousness."

"A large number of women passengers arrive at Swargate Bus Station from various districts of the state, yet no proper facilities are available here. At night, the bus station is enveloped in darkness, creating an environment where many women are harassed. Often, intoxicated individuals can be found in the bus station area. Police patrols should take action to remove such people. Even during the last monsoon, the bus station resembled a pond, and basic infrastructure improvements are still lacking," he added.

"Although the incident that occurred yesterday was due to the despicable mentality of the accused, the bus station administration and the police officers on patrol, who contributed to creating an environment that facilitated this crime, are equally responsible for this tragedy," said Ravindra Dhangekar.

No fear of cops: Andhare

Meanwhile, Andhare expressed shock over the incident and said that the grip over law and order in the city is loosening. "There is no fear of the police among criminals. Police patrolling should be increased and state Home Minister should look into this matter," she added.

She also said that the incident is a shame to the culture of Pune.

State Women's Commission chief Rupali Chakankar also expressed shock and said, “Pune has always been known as an educational hub, attracting girls from various talukas and villages for their studies. Historically, girls have felt safe in the city, with many coming here for their education. However, the recent incident at Swargate is deeply shocking.”

“The police are keeping a close eye on this. Eight teams have been formed to search for the accused, and investigations are underway in rural areas and Swargate areas. The CDR of the accused has been drawn up, and accordingly, he is being tracked down according to his location.”

Meanwhile, a manhunt has been launched after a man with a criminal record allegedly raped a 26-year-old woman inside a stationary state transport bus at the busy Swargate bus stand in the city.