Special Correspondent
Pune : In a significant development in the Swargate rape case, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar has acknowledged the claim made by villagers of Gunat that they were the ones who caught the accused, Dattatray Gade. The commissioner has announced that he will visit the village to felicitate the locals and reward them with ₹1 lakh.
The horrific crime took place inside a Shivshahi bus at Swargate Bus Stand, where a 26-year-old woman was raped. The accused, Dattatray Gade, had been absconding since the incident but was arrested by the police around 1:30 AM last night. However, villagers of Gunat claimed that it was they who apprehended Gade before the police took him into custody.
Expressing his gratitude to the villagers, Commissioner Amitesh Kumar stated, “After analyzing 23 CCTV cameras from the bus stand and 48 cameras from nearby areas, we identified the accused within two hours. We had been conducting search operations in his village for the past two days, but he was not found. Eventually, he was located today, and I sincerely thank the villagers for their help. I will visit Gunat to felicitate them and personally appreciate those who contributed to the arrest.”
He further elaborated on the capture, saying, “The final tip-off we received indicated that Gade had stopped to drink water before fleeing again. Using drone surveillance, we tracked his movement and arrested him. The person who provided the crucial information will receive a ₹1 lakh reward. Additionally, we will explore other ways to support the village.”
According to police reports, the accused was reportedly remorseful and even attempted suicide by hanging himself, leaving rope marks on his neck. However, he failed in his attempt. “Although there was a delay in arresting him, we have finally taken him into custody, and he will be presented in court today,” Commissioner Amitesh Kumar added.
