Pune Rape: LoP Vijay Wadettiwar condemns "shameful" law and order situation in Maharashtra

Nagpur (Maharashtra) [India], February 27 (ANI): Maharashtra Assembly's Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar has strongly criticised the Devendra Fadnavis-led government's handling of law and order situation in the State, following the incident where a 26-year-old woman was allegedly raped inside a bus at the Swargate depot in Pune.
"This incident is shameful for Maharashtra. Law and order have been shattered in Maharashtra. Such incidents are increasing everywhere," Wadettiwar said.
The Congress leader said, "There is no law and order left in Maharashtra. People have lost faith in the police department and the home department." He emphasized the urgent need for the State government to take action, urging Chief Minister Fadnavis to pay closer attention to the growing safety concerns across the State. "The Chief Minister should pay attention to this, this is our demand from him," Wadettiwar said.
Pune City Police today said they have expanded their efforts to apprehend the accused in the Swargate bus depot rape case, who has been on the run since Tuesday. They have also announced a Rs one lakh cash reward to nab the accused, identified as Dattatray Ramdas Gade.
A total of 13 teams have been deployed to track down the suspect, with eight teams from the Crime Branch and five teams from Swargate Police Station working on the ground. Police teams have even been dispatched outside the district to intensify the search, they said.
Smartana Patil, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Zone II, Pune said, "We have declared a Rs one lakh cash award for the person who helps in nabbing the accused. We have sent the bus for forensic investigation. Our teams have been working day and night since the incident happened."
The incident took place on Tuesday when the rape survivor, a working woman, was waiting for a bus to return home to Phaltan, which is located around 100 km away. The accused allegedly approached her, falsely claiming that the bus to her destination was parked elsewhere. He led her to a MSRTC Shivsahi bus parked in the depot and followed her in where he allegedly raped her. (ANI)