How a call by an alert citizen saved a 20 year old from being killed in Pune

Pune: An alert citizen prevented two ruffians from molesting a 20-year-old married woman near Dandekar bridge in the wee hours of Saturday. The woman along with her maternal uncle had come to city from her maternal home from Madhya Pradesh on Friday night. She had to travel to Mahabaleshwar to her husband's house. She along with her uncle was seated at Pune bus stand waiting for the bus to arrive. The two ruffians pretending to be policemen took both of them outside and made them sit in two separate autorickshaws. An alert citizen who was seated as a passenger found sometime suspicious and alerted the police.

The arrested persons have been identified as Badshah alias Altaf Pathan (25) and his accomplice Ramya, who have been arrested under the relevant sections of Indian Penal Code consist of molestation, assault, kidnapping and an act done by them with common intention. The incident came to light, when victim (20), a resident of Mahabaleshwar has lodged a complaint with Bund Garden police on Saturday. Victim is newly married woman. Her husband works as a waiter in a Mahabaleshwar-based hotel.

Speaking to dna the victim recalls, "I had a relative's wedding at my my maternal home in Madhya Pradesh and on Friday around 11 am, I reached Pune railway station and from Pune I had to travel again to Mahabaleshwar for which I had to take bus around 5.30 am. My uncle and I were busy waiting in the waiting room and later we went to bus stand waiting for the bus. Badshah was trying to be close to me and I prefered to remain in the woman's public toilet. After waiting for 20 minutes, I came out and suddenly two men with a chopper in hand came near us and started inquiring us about where we came from. They pretended to be policemen and wanted to ask us questions. I even raised an alarm."

She went on, "They made me sit forcefully in one autorickshaw and my uncle in another autorickshaw. Badshah threatened me with a knife asking me to be quiet." Victim added, "By god grace, I am saved. Just worried at bit that my husband accept me."

Sub-inspector Ashok Wagh of Bund garden police station who is investigating the case said, "The duo dressed as policemen had scared the autorickshaw drivers. An alert citizen dialled the police control room. The Swargate police reached the spot and arrested the accused. They had choppers with them."

He added, "Badshah has a criminal past and some 10 cases of dacoity, arms possession, molestation registered against him from 2010. Two months ago he was out on bail. The duo had planned to rape the victim and later kill her or sell her to a brothel."

EOM