The alleged rape and murder of a four-year-old girl in Pune sparked widespread outrage, as her family and villagers blocked a key highway.
Traffic congestion near Navale Bridge in Pune as the girl’s family blocked the highway. (PTI)
A disturbing case emerged from Maharashtra’s Pune, where a four-year-old girl was raped and brutally murdered, sparking widespread outrage in the area. The victim’s family staged a protest at the Mumbai-Bengaluru highway, demanding strict action against the accused.
Videos showed a massive traffic congestion on the highway at the Mumbai-Bengaluru highway as the victim’s family placed her body on the road and demanded immediate action. Several villagers accompanied the family during the protest.
The incident sparked widespread outrage elsewhere in Pune. Hundreds of villagers had gathered at a police chowki and the highway on Friday night, demanding strict action against the accused. Police has assured action in the case.
Fadnavis Demands Death Penalty
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the state government will demand capital punishment against the accused, describing the incident as “condemnable and tragic” and promising a fast-track trial.
“I would like to request the High Court to give us a special public prosecutor, and we will demand capital punishment in the court,” he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Maharashtra Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar met the family of the minor girl on Saturday and assured them of strict action in the case. She described the incident as “shocking”, while saying that the state government stands with the victim’s family.
Who Is The Accused?
The accused has been identified as a 65-year-old man who has been arrested. As per reports, the accused allegedly lured the child into a cowshed by promising her food, after which he sexually assaulted her.
The accused reportedly bludgeoned the minor girl to death with a stone before hiding her body in the shed. The name of the accused has not been revealed yet. Police have launched a probe into the case.
Sandip Singh Gill, SP Pune Rural, said the accused has a criminal record. “Cases under the POCSO Act were previously registered against the 65-year-old accused in both 1998 and 2015; he already possesses a criminal record. We have registered this current case under the POCSO Act as well and are conducting further investigations,” the SP added.
NCP(SP) MP Supriya Sule, meanwhile, questioned the accused’s release in the previous cases against him. “Our question to the Maharashtra government and police is that if this man had two cases against him, why was he out on bail?” she told ANI.
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