India, March 1 -- The coordinated efforts of villagers from Gunat, facilitated through two WhatsApp groups and the proactive involvement of Gram Suraksha Dal, played a pivotal role in the arrest of Dattatray Ramdas Gade, the accused in the Swargate bus stand rape case.

Gade had allegedly raped a 26-year-old woman hospital counsellor inside a Shivshahi bus parked overnight at the MSRTC Swargate terminus around 5.30am on Tuesday.

Gunat village in Shirur tehsil, 72 kilometres from Pune city, has around 3,700 people with agriculture and allied activities as major occupation.

Gade who was evading police agencies was tracked down thanks to villagers, Gram Suraksha Dal and two WhatsApp groups - "Maza Gaon, Maza Abhiman" and "Maza Gaon, Mazi B...