Pune: Woman physically assaulted by 3; male friend assaulted as police form SIT
PTC News Desk: A 21-year-old woman was reportedly gang-raped by three men on the outskirts of Pune, while her male companion was assaulted during the incident, according to police sources cited by news agency PTI on Friday. The alleged crime took place in the Bopdev Ghar area around 11 p.m. on Thursday night.
As per the Kondhwa police, the woman and her friend had traveled to the Bopdev Ghar locality late Thursday night when they encountered the assailants. A senior police official stated, “According to preliminary details, the woman and her male friend were in the Bopdev Ghar area, where three unknown individuals allegedly raped her.”
In response to the incident, the police have formed 10 teams dedicated to locating the suspects involved in the alleged gang-rape. Another official from the Kondhwa police station revealed that the crime occurred in an isolated location, where the trio also assaulted the woman’s male friend during the attack.
In a separate and unrelated case, a 45-year-old school van driver has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting two six-year-old girls in Pune city. The incident occurred on September 30 while the children were being transported home after attending school in the Wanwadi area.
According to police reports, the accused, identified as Sanjay Reddy, allegedly touched the private parts of both girls while they were in the van. One of the victims later disclosed the incident to her mother, prompting the family to inform the police and file a complaint.
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A formal police report was lodged on Wednesday, leading to Reddy’s arrest. He has been charged under sections 64 (punishment for rape) and 65(2) (punishment for rape of a woman under twelve years of age) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), as well as the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Reddy has been remanded in police custody until October 8.
Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis emphasized that strict action would be taken against the perpetrators in both cases. He confirmed that relevant sections of the BNS and POCSO Act had been invoked for rape and other offenses.
Additionally, the school authorities involved in the van incident have been summoned for inquiry to assess their responsibility in the matter. Fadnavis noted, “We will check if they were at fault as well.”
Both incidents have raised significant concerns about safety and security in Pune, prompting local authorities to bolster their investigative efforts and ensure justice for the victims.
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