Special Correspondent
Pune: A chilling incident unfolded on the campus of Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) on Friday night, as a girl was allegedly abducted near the girls’ hostel, triggering widespread panic among students and raising urgent questions about campus safety.
The suspected kidnapping occurred around 8:30 p.m. near the university’s Marathi department. Eyewitnesses reported seeing a crying young woman being forcibly pushed into a car by an unidentified man. Despite students quickly alerting campus security, the vehicle had already left the scene by the time authorities arrived.
In a swift response, two individuals fleeing the area on foot were caught by university security. The two, residents of Sangvi and Aundh, were handed over to Chatushrungi Police. Preliminary investigation revealed that the main suspect fled with one of his accomplices’ mobile phone and bag — potentially vital clues in tracking him.
CCTV footage from the surrounding areas is being reviewed to identify the vehicle and locate the absconding suspect. The identity of the girl remains unconfirmed, and it is yet to be established whether she is an SPPU student.
The incident has reignited concerns about campus security, especially for female students. In recent weeks, the university has already faced criticism over reports of alcohol consumption inside hostel premises and rising cases of harassment.
Police are probing all possible angles, including abduction, and have assured that efforts to trace both the girl and the main accused have been intensified. Student groups and activists have called for immediate and stringent security measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
