Crime
Pune rape case: Transport Minister orders safety audit of depots & disposal of scrapped buses by April 15
Mumbai, Feb 27: A day after 26 year old woman was raped inside the state transport bus in Swargate depot from Pune, Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik on Thursday announced a slew of measures to upgrade security in buses and depots of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC).
The minister called for the use of Artificial Technology, installation of CCTVs and GPS system in buses, installation of alarm and locking systems in buses, disposal of scrapped buses, four-wheelers and two-wheelers currently parked in various depots by April 15 and safety audit of all bus depots.
Further, the minister said the department will appeal to the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for the deployment of a senior IPS officer in the MSRTC to supervise and handle the security-related issues.
The minister further stated that the department and MSRTC will also seek help from various undertakings and the state security board to deploy more security guards in the bus depots across the state.
Currently, there are only 2,700 security guards, comprising fewer women, so the department will desire more security guards and also about 15 to 20 per cent additional women as security guards.
Sarnaik was speaking after he chaired a high-level meeting with the officers of the transport department and MSRTC to review the present security arrangements at MSRTC depots and further steps to be taken to improve the safety of women in particular. He has already ordered an inquiry into the rape case and asked the administration to suspend the concerned officers if found lapses in their functioning.
“There are about 15,000 buses, including newly inducted EV buses in the fleet of MSRTC. It was decided to use AI to improve security in buses and at the depots. The CCTVs, GPS system, alarm and locking systems will be installed in these buses. In addition, the scrapped buses, two and four wheelers not in use currently, parked at various depots, will be disposed of by April 15 so that the anti-social elements should not take undue advantage. The disposal of these scrapped vehicles will be jointly conducted by the transport department, regional transport offices and MSRTC,” he said.
He further added that there are around 800 bus depots and stations where these security arrangements will be further strengthened and the cleanliness there will also be implemented.
“The department will soon conduct a safety and security audit of these depots,” the minister said.
Sarnaik said that the department will make a special appeal to the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to depute an IPS officer in the MSRTC to look after security aspects. He added that the post has been lying vacant despite the department’s request made in the past.
Sarnaik said that he has already ordered a departmental inquiry by senior officers about the functioning of the assistant transport superintendent and Swargate depot manager. They will be suspended immediately if lapses are found while discharging their duties. He said he has asked the acting MSRTC vice chairman and managing director Vivek Bhimanwar to immediately institute an inquiry.
Sarnaik said that his department accords priority to women’s safety. According to him, under the Mahila Samman Yojana, women are given 50 per cent discount on their travels from MSRTC buses. He further stated that due to this, the number of women passengers has increased substantially.
Crime
Delhi Police solve Usmanpur robbery case, arrest two accused; stolen mobile phone recovered

New Delhi, Oct 12: Delhi Police solved a robbery case in New Usmanpur area by arresting two accused, including a proclaimed bad character (BC) of Bhajanpura police station. The mobile phone robbed from the victim has also been recovered, officials said.
According to police, the incident took place on October 8, when Man Singh, 28, a resident of South Gamri in Delhi who works as a taxi driver, was walking from 4.5 Pusta towards the parking area at 5th Pusta to collect his vehicle at around 5 a.m.
When he reached a garbage dump, three persons allegedly intercepted him. One of them grabbed him from behind and choked him, while another pressed a knife-like object against his stomach.
Meanwhile, the third accused took his mobile phone and wallet containing Rs 1,500 and his driving licence from his trouser pocket. They also snatched an earring from his ear before fleeing towards Khajuri Chowk.
Following the complaint, a case was registered under FIR No. 639/2026 dated October 8 under Sections 309(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and an investigation was initiated.
A police team under the supervision of Seelampur ACP cracked the case, arresting the key suspect.
The team analysed footage from more than 150 CCTV cameras and developed local intelligence, leading to the identification and arrest of the two accused on October 9.
The accused have been identified as Arif alias Khujli, 25, a resident of Gali No. 4, 5th Pusta, Gamri, Delhi, and Dilshad Sheikh, 24, a resident of Gali No. 24, 5th Pusta, Gamri, Bhajanpura, Delhi.
During verification, Arif was found to be a “bad character” of Bhajanpura police station, with six previous cases related to robbery, theft and offences under the Arms Act. Dilshad was previously involved in two robbery cases, police said.
During interrogation, both accused confessed to their involvement in the crime and disclosed information about a third associate. On October 10, during police custody remand, the victim’s robbed mobile phone was recovered at Arif’s instance.
Crime
Ambulance-borne thieves wearing nighties target ATM in Telangana

Hyderabad, Oct 12: Unidentified thieves wearing nighties and masks, who arrived in an ambulance, looted an ATM in Telangana Kamareddy district on Sunday, officials said on Monday.
According to police, the burglars broke into a State Bank of India (SBI) ATM and, after damaging the machine with gas cutters, escaped with the cash. The crime, committed between 1 a.m. and 1.30 a.m. in Gandhari village, was captured on the CCTV camera.
The footage shows the offenders arriving in an ambulance, wearing masks, caps and gloves, cutting open the ATM with gas cutters and fleeing with cash. The suspects appear to be men. However, police have not ruled out the involvement of women as a woman was involved in the recent theft at an ATM in Karimnagar district.
The theft came to light on Monday morning after locals noticed the damaged machine and alerted the police. The police reached the scene, registered a case, and collected evidence with the assistance of a clues team.
Investigators are examining CCTV footage to identify the suspects and reconstruct their movements before and after the robbery. The amount of cash stolen remains unconfirmed, with verification of the ATM’s cash balance required to establish the loss.
Police are also investigating whether the ambulance used in the crime was genuine or it was just to disguise their movements.
Last month, burglars damaged two ATMs and looted cash in Telangana’s Karimnagar town. The offenders targeted two ATMs of the SBI in two different areas, using gas cutters to break open the machines and fled with the cash.
The thefts, committed in Durshed under Karimnagar Rural Police Station limits and Thimmapur under LMD Police Station limits on September 19, were captured on CCTV.
At Durshed, the thieves allegedly sprayed a liquid on the CCTV cameras before stealing the cash from the ATM.
Police identified the involvement of a woman based on the CCTV footage.
Two burglars, including a woman, reached the Durshed ATM in a car. The accused were wearing caps, spectacles, gloves and masks.
After damaging the ATM, they took away Rs 8 lakh stored in the machine.
Crime
Assam Rifles seize methamphetamine tablets worth over Rs 2 crore in Tripura, one arrested

Agartala, Oct 12: The Assam Rifles have seized highly addictive methamphetamine tablets worth over Rs 2 crore and arrested a suspected drug peddler in Tripura, officials said on Monday.
A defence spokesman said that the Assam Rifles, in a joint operation with Assam Rifles Field Intelligence Unit (ARFIU) and Customs Department, Agartala, apprehended a suspected drug peddler and recovered 1.994 kg of methamphetamine tablets, also known as Yaba tablets, worth approximately Rs 2 crore at Mohanpur in West Tripura District.
A bike was also seized from the individual, a resident of Mohanpur.
The apprehended suspected drug peddler, recovered contraband, and the two-wheeler were subsequently handed over to the Customs Department, Agartala, for further investigation.
Assam Rifles remains committed to combating drug trafficking and the narcotics menace in Tripura through coordinated operations with other law enforcement agencies, contributing towards a drug-free society, an Assam Rifles statement said.
The methamphetamine tablets, also known as party tablets, containing a mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine, also called the ‘crazy drug’, are banned in India.
Meanwhile, the Assam Rifles, in coordination with Customs, in two separate operations last week, have seized 841 kg of ganja (marijuana) worth around Rs 4.24 crore in Tripura’s Khowai district.
A defence spokesman said that as part of a crackdown on narcotics trafficking, the Assam Rifles, in coordination with Customs officials, conducted both operations.
Police officials said that the state police, Assam Rifles, Tripura State Rifles (TSR) and other security forces, in joint operations, often destroy illicit ganja cultivation in different parts of the state, especially in Sepahijala district, which shares a border with Bangladesh.
According to a police official, dry ganja produced in Tripura is not consumed locally and is smuggled to various states, including Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, where it fetches higher prices. During transportation, consignments of dry ganja are often seized from trucks, small vehicles and even passenger trains.
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