Pune bus rape accused arrested after 75 hours of manhunt
What's the story
The Pune police have arrested the man accused of raping a woman inside a state-run bus stationed at a bus depot.
The incident took place on Tuesday morning near a police station at the Swargate Bus Station, one of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation's largest depots.
The victim was waiting to board a bus to her hometown in Satara district when Dattatraya Ramdas Gade approached her, posing as a conductor, between 5:45am and 6:00am.
Deception
Accused lured victim into empty bus
The survivor said Gade first spoke to her by addressing her as "didi" (sister).
He deceived her by saying the bus for Satara had come at another platform and took her to an empty Shiv Shahi AC bus.
Though she was hesitant as the interior of the bus was unlit, he persuaded her it was the right vehicle.
Criminal history
Accused posed as policeman, involved in other crimes
Gade had been on the run since the incident. NDTV, citing sources, said he had masqueraded as a policeman for months.
Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam also said that he had visited several bus terminals prior to the incident.
The accused hails from Gunat village and has been involved in several cases of theft, robbery, and chain snatching in Pune and Ahilyanagar districts.
He has been out on bail since 2019 for one of the crimes.
Arrest operation
Extensive manhunt leads to accused's arrest
To nab Gade, 13 police teams were sent across Maharashtra. Sniffer dogs and drones were pressed into the search operation.
The search included a combing of Gunat village and nearby sugarcane fields by Pune City and Pune Rural Police.
Pune police had also announced a reward of ₹1 lakh for information leading to Gade's arrest.
He was finally detained by the Pune Police around midnight in Shirur Tehsil following a 75-hour-long manhunt.