Thu Feb 27 09:21:51 UTC 2025: ## Pune Bus Rape Sparks Outrage, Demand for Death Penalty
**Pune, Maharashtra –** The rape of a 27-year-old woman at a busy Pune bus depot has ignited widespread anger and calls for the harshest possible punishment for the accused. The incident, which occurred Tuesday morning at Swargate Bus Stand, just 100 meters from a police station, has put the Maharashtra government under intense pressure.
The victim, a domestic worker, was allegedly assaulted by 36-year-old Dattatraya Ramdas Gade, a repeat offender with a history of theft and robbery, who was out on bail since 2019. Gade lured the woman onto a dark, unlit bus, promising transport to her hometown. He then locked the doors and committed the rape.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has vowed that the perpetrator will face the full force of the law, stating that such individuals “should be hanged.” His fellow Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar, echoed this sentiment, demanding the death penalty. The state government has announced a security audit of all bus depots and replaced the guards at Swargate. A ₹1 lakh reward has been offered for information leading to Gade’s arrest, and the police are using drones and have formed 13 teams to track him down.
The opposition has seized on the incident, criticizing the government’s focus on women’s welfare schemes while neglecting basic safety measures. The Congress accused the government of prioritizing “freebies” over women’s safety, drawing parallels to the 2012 Delhi gang rape case that led to significant political change. Protests have taken place outside the Swargate police station. The damaged bus involved in the incident is to be auctioned off swiftly.
First Piper 