PUNE: A Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) bus driver, Gautam Machindra Salunkhe (29) of Phursungi, was found murdered on Sunday afternoon in the bushes at an isolated spot in Handewadi, the Loni Kalbhor police said.
Deputy commissioner of police (Zone V) Namrata Patil said, “Salunkhe was found bludgeoned to death with heavy stones. He was found wearing the khaki uniform provided by the PMPML. The assailants brutally assaulted him on the face.”
“We are registering a case of murder against the unidentified persons with the Loni Kalbhor police station. Further investigations are under way. The reason behind the murder is not known as yet.We will try to solve the case at the earliest,” Patil said.
Police said, “Salunkhe was working the second shift on Saturday and drove the Swargate - Dhayari bus. He parked the bus around 9.30pm at the Swargate bus depot after his shift was over.”
Police said he did not go home at night like he usually did.
“The family members started searching for him on Sunday morning and visited the PMPML’s Swargate depot. The PMPML officials informed family members that he left the Swargate depot at 9.30pm after parking the bus. They later approached the police when he did not answer his phone after repeated attempts. Police scanned Handewadi and Phursungi and found his body around 4pm,” police said.
