Akola rape horror: 48-hour jungle hunt ends in 60-yr-old’s arrest

Akola: In a manhunt involving over a hundred personnel and aerial surveillance, the Akola police on Thursday apprehended a 60-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl in Savargaon. The operation, which lasted 48 hours across a 25-km stretch of dense, roadless forest, ended with the arrest of the suspect, identified as Jagram Govinda Ade.The case was registered on May 5 at Channi police station after the minor survivor reported the ordeal to her parents. Exploiting the absence of parents — who were out for manual labour — the accused allegedly barged into the house, assaulted the child, and threatened her with death.SP Archit Chandak immediately mobilized five specialized units, including the local crime branch (LCB), the riot control police (RCP), and dog squads.The operation, dubbed ‘Operation Savargaon', was not easy. "The suspect had no mobile phone, no vehicle, and there was no photograph of him in police records," a senior official said. "Being a local, he was well-familiar with the forest trails, making him an invisible target in the thick forest canopy," the official added.About 105 personnel trekked on foot along with four high-definition drones to scan areas in scorching heat to nab him. The forest dept provided specialized teams to navigate the wildlife-prone terrain alongside villagers.Following the arrest from Savargaon forest on May 7, SP Chandak said, "Our teams worked day and night under the blistering sun to ensure this criminal was caught. To ensure the survivor gets justice without delay, we are committed to filing the chargesheet within 30 days. We will push for a fast-track trial to ensure the maximum possible punishment," he said.The operation was executed under the guidance of Chandak, addl SP B Chandrakant Reddy, and asst SP Nikhil Patil. On-ground leadership included LCB chief Shankar Shelke, API Ravindra Lande, and several other officers who navigated the Chodi, Vandev, and Vasali forest ranges to secure the perimeter.The accused is currently in police custody, and further legal proceedings under the Pocso Act and BNS are underway.