By Tejas
Pune, October 7, 2024: It has been four days since the horrifying incident of an alleged sexual assault on a young woman at Bopdev Ghat, yet the police have not made any breakthroughs in the case. To expedite the investigation and apprehend the suspects, the Pune police have now announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for anyone providing information that leads to the arrest of the accused.
Joint Commissioner of Police, Ranjan Kumar Sharma, confirmed the reward and assured, “A reward of Rs 10 lakh will be given to anyone providing information about the accused, and the identity of the informant will remain confidential.”
The police are also employing advanced technology to aid the investigation. They have collected data, including CCTV footage and mobile phone information, from around 3,000 individuals who passed through Bopdev Ghat in that night. This data is currently being analysed using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to identify leads. The police also informed that the search for the accused has expanded beyond Pune to nearby areas.
In addition to the technological analysis, the police dog unit inspected the crime scene, recovering evidence, including a bamboo stick used by the assailants and blood samples. These have been sent to the forensic lab for further analysis. The police have also released sketches of the suspects.
The incident occurred last Thursday night when the victim, along with her friend, visited Bopdev Ghat. Around 11 p.m., three individuals allegedly attacked them, tying the victim’s friend to a tree and raping the girl. The police were informed of the crime early Friday morning at around 5 a.m., after which the crime branch launched an investigation into this case.
Authorities continue to intensify efforts to locate the suspects.
