A complete shutdown brought western Maharashtra's Bhor-Rajgad belt in Pune district to a standstill on Sunday as outrage escalated over the rape and murder of a three-year-old girl. The victim's family has refused to meet any politicians until the 65-year-old accused is sentenced to death.
Protest and Bandh
Shops remained closed after residents called for a bandh to protest the heinous crime in Nasrapur village of Bhor taluka. The accused, a laborer from the village and a father of seven, has been arrested. He is alleged to be a repeat offender in child abuse cases.
The girl went missing on Friday afternoon. A frantic search led her family to a neighbor's CCTV footage, which showed the accused leading the child to a cattle shed about 700 meters away. Her body was later found under a heap of cow dung.
Tension Spreads Across District
Tension spread across the district as protesters tried to block traffic at the Khed Shivapur toll plaza before police intervened. The previous night, demonstrators and the victim's family blocked the Mumbai-Bengaluru highway near Wadgaon bridge for more than four hours, demanding firm assurances from the state government.
In a video message, the child's father stated that his family will not meet any politicians until the accused is awarded the death penalty. Several politicians had visited the family earlier in the day, but minister Madhuri Misal and Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange canceled their plans following the family's appeal.
Government Response
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis acknowledged the public anger but cautioned against attempts to exploit the situation. He said he had spoken to the victim's father and given a written assurance that the government would pursue the death penalty.
"The case will be tried in a fast-track court and procedures will be expedited," Fadnavis said, adding that demands for public execution cannot be met. "While everyone wants the accused to be hanged publicly, such things cannot be done in a democratic system as it functions according to the law," he added.
Criticism of Police Action
Allegations of a police lathicharge during Saturday night's protest drew criticism. "That should not have happened," said BJP functionary Medha Kulkarni. Congress state chief Harshwardhan Sapkal accused authorities of trying to suppress voices seeking justice.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for swift justice and stringent punishment for the accused.
