Four year old girl raped and murdered; Angry people blocked the highway, 65 year old man arrested

The accused lured the girl and took her to the cattle shed where he committed wrongdoing.

Pune. Hundreds of people blocked the Mumbai-Bengaluru highway in protest against the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl, disrupting traffic on the busy route for nearly four hours. The girl’s family members and other protesters kept the victim’s body on the road in ‘Nawale Bridge’ area on Saturday evening and demanded strict punishment for the 65-year-old man arrested in the case. Many such videos have surfaced in which huge traffic jam is visible on the highway.

Later, the victim was cremated at Vaikuntha crematorium here after midnight amidst tight police security arrangements. The accused person in this case is a laborer and has a criminal record.

Police said the accused allegedly lured the girl by luring her with food and took her to a cattle shed where he sexually assaulted her and then killed her.

He told that when the girl went missing, her relatives started searching for her and during this time, the accused was seen with the girl in the CCTV footage of a private residence, after which he was arrested.

A case has been registered against the accused under relevant provisions of the Indian Justice Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act. He has been sent to police custody till May 7.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar met the girl’s family on Saturday and assured them of strict action against the accused and a speedy trial.

Describing the incident as “shocking” and a “blame on humanity”, Pawar said the government stands firmly with the victim’s family and will ensure justice.

He also spoke to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on this matter and demanded trial in a fast track court, so that the accused can be given the harshest punishment.

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