Accused attempted to end life, held after manhunt

Pune police arrested Dattatray Ramdas Gade, 37, accused of allegedly raping a 26-year-old woman in an empty bus at the Swargate MSRTC bus depot earlier this week, in the early hours on Friday following an extensive three-day search.

- Shrinivas Deshpande

PUNE: He was nabbed from his home in his village Gunat, in Shirur.

The accused, who has been on the run since the incident, allegedly attempted suicide to evade arrest, police officials said. Villagers also helped police track him down, said police. Five hundred personnel from crime branch, Swargate police station, riot control platoons and recruits along with 400-500 villagers were part of the search operation.

Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar said, "According to the primary medical report, a ligature mark was found on the neck of the accused. It is suspected that he attempted suicide. We are waiting for the final report."