Pune highway rape: Three days on, accused still at large; police release sketch of main suspect

Maharashtra police on Wednesday released the sketch of one of the accused in the sexual assault of a teenage girl in Daund on the Pune-Solapur highway earlier this week. 

 

The investigators have also appealed to the public to contact cops if they come across any information about the accused.

 

The incident took place around 4 am on Monday when a group of people, including the victim, was travelling in a car to the temple town of Pandharpur. As the driver stopped the vehicle on the roadside for a tea break, two motorbike-borne men armed with weapons approached them and robbed three women passengers of their gold ornaments before taking the minor girl out of the vehicle and sexually assaulting her.

 

"Based on the description given by the victims, the sketch of one of the accused involved in the crime has been released. We appeal to people to contact cops in case they come across any information about the accused," Superintendent of Police (Pune Rural) Sandip Singh Gill said.

 

Those who get any information about the accused can contact sub- divisional police officer Bapurao Dadas, Assistant Police Inspectors Rahul Gawade and Dattaji Mohite on mobile phone numbers - 9049664673, 9823165080 and 8308844004 – respectively.

 

According to reports, there were seven people belonging to two different families in the car—the 70-year-old driver, three women, the 17-year-old girl and two 17-year-old boys.

 

Police have filed a case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 64, 309(6), 351(2), 3(5) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) 4 and 6 and Arms Act Section 4, 25.

India