Bopdev Ghat rape: Accused robbed victims at knifepoint before gangraping woman, says Police

The police are mainly focusing on footage in which three young men are seen walking together in the Bopdev Ghat and adjoining areas. Meanwhile, a CCTV footage showing three persons together on a motorcycle has gone viral.

A senior police officer said the viral clip was one of the multiple CCTV footages being investigated and was not sure whether the suspects visible in the video are those involved in the crime. The police officer said that CCTV footage of more than hundred locations on 70 to 80 kilometres of roads from the crime scene are being analysed.

According to the police, the woman and her 22-year-old friend, both college students, not native to Pune, had gone to the Bopdev Ghat area on motorcycle on Thursday night.

At around 11 pm, three men came to the spot on their bikes and allegedly threatened them with sharp weapons and robbed their valuables. A senior police officer said the accused men tied the woman’s friend with his shirt and belt. The accused then dragged the woman to an isolated area, and gangraped her.

After the accused left the crime scene, the woman returned to her friend and released him. The victim was taken to a private hospital, the police said. However, as it was a medico-legal case, authorities at the private hospital asked the couple to go to the government-run Sassoon General Hospital, where doctors informed the Pune city police.

The incident was reported to the police at around 5 am Friday.  An FIR in the case was registered on Friday morning at the Kondhwa police station. The accused are booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections for gang rape and robbery and also under sections of Indian Arms Act.

Police said that 60 police teams are involved in the investigation of this case. “Analysis of data of more than 3,000 mobile phones is being done. Over 200 criminals on police record are being verified,” a police officer said.

During the investigation, police prepared the sketch of two suspects based on a description given by the victim.
“The sketch of the suspects are circulated in all groups and nearby villages and calls about these are being verified,” police said.

No arrests have been made until now.