Pune, 1st July 2025: In a shocking incident that unfolded in the early hours of Monday, a group of pilgrims traveling to Pandharpur was targeted by two unidentified assailants on a highway in Pune district's Daund area. The victims, two families from Junnar tehsil, had stopped their car near Bhigwan around 4:15 AM when the driver, a 70-year-old man, pulled over due to drowsiness.
While the driver was outside, two men on a motorcycle approached the vehicle. They threatened the occupants with sharp objects and proceeded to rob three women passengers of their gold jewellery. In a horrific turn, one of the assailants also dragged a 17-year-old girl from the car and sexually assaulted her.
The group of seven, which included the driver, three women, two 17-year-old boys, and the 17-year-old girl, was left shaken after the ordeal. A 73-year-old tea stall owner reportedly witnessed parts of the incident but was unable to provide detailed information due to his age.
After the attackers fled on their motorcycle, the passengers managed to compose themselves and promptly reported the crime to the police. Pune (Rural) Superintendent of Police Sandip Singh Gill confirmed that a case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Eight teams have been formed to track down and apprehend the accused.
