Maharashtra Govt Vows Strictest Punishment for Pune Minor’s Rape and Murder Accused

Mumbai (IANS): Maharashtra Minister Yogesh Kadam confirmed on Saturday that the state is pursuing the strictest possible punishment for the 65-year-old man accused of raping and murdering a four-year-old girl in Pune’s Bhor Taluka. Minister Kadam stated that the investigation remains active and the government is committed to ensuring the perpetrator faces severe legal consequences.

Political and Social Reaction

The brutality of the crime has sparked widespread condemnation from political leaders and the public:

• Worst Kind of Atrocity: Shiv Sena National Spokesperson Shaina NC described the incident as the “worst kind of atrocity,” noting that the suspect lured, assaulted, and killed the toddler before attempting to hide the body under cow dung.
• Legal Charges: Authorities have invoked the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the accused.
• Public Outrage: In Nasrapur, hundreds of villagers staged a blockade on the Pune-Bengaluru Highway, demanding immediate and uncompromising justice despite the suspect being in custody.

Investigation and Evidence

The Pune Rural Police identified the suspect through evidence found early in the probe:

• CCTV Footage: Video evidence reportedly showed the elderly man taking the child away, which led to his swift detention.
• Discovery of Victim: The child’s family discovered her mutilated body, which had been crushed with a stone, after she went missing on Friday afternoon.
• Police Commitment: Superintendent of Pune Rural Police Sandip Singh Gill assured the public that a chargesheet would be filed within 15 days and the trial would proceed in a fast-track court.

A social activist noted that the recurring failure of fast-track courts to deliver swift verdicts has eroded public trust, urging that justice not be delayed to ensure a deterrent effect.