'Threw chilli powder into eyes': 21-year-old woman abducted in front of family in Pune; massive protests erupt

PUNE: Angry protesters blocked the Pune–Solapur highway at Bhigwan in Indapur taluka, about 100 km from the city, on Tuesday night amid tension over the abduction of a 21-year-old woman earlier that afternoon by three men hailing from a different community.
The blockade continued for more than 30 minutes before police managed to convince the protesters to clear the highway.

Police said the woman, whose marriage is scheduled for February 22, was returning home after shopping when two of the three men threw chilli powder into the eyes of her mother and brother, who were accompanying her and abducted her between 3.30 pm and 4 pm. The third person stood nearby.


The suspects reside in the same neighbourhood as the woman’s family and are known to them, police added.

Superintendent of Police, Pune Rural, Sandeep Singh Gill, said, “We have identified the three men. Six teams have been formed to trace and rescue the woman and nab the suspects.”

Bhigwan police registered a case of abduction late Tuesday night after a sizeable number of irate residents gathered outside the police station, demanding action.

On Wednesday, Pune Rural police denied permission to BJP legislator Gopichand Padalkar to address a public rally at Bhigwan, citing the tense situation and the need to avoid any trouble ahead of Shiv Jayanti on February 19.

Police said CCTV footage showed the three men walking close to the woman and her two family members in the Bhigwan market area. Two of them then approached the victims and threw chilli powder into the eyes of the woman’s mother and brother before abducting her.

Police suspect the trio had parked their vehicles some distance away from the crime scene.

Members of various political parties gathered in Bhigwan and demanded strict action against the accused.