SIT formed in Pune child rape-murder case amid public outrage

Police have formed a Special Investigation Team to probe the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl in Pune district. The brutal crime triggered protests, while the victim’s father appealed to politicians not to visit his home until the accused is punished

Pune: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl in Pune district of Maharashtra amid massive outrage over the brutal crime.

“An SIT comprising six police officers, including two women, has been set up. We will add more officers and personnel depending on the course of the investigation. The team will thoroughly probe the case,” a police officer said on Sunday.

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A 65-year-old man with a criminal record has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting and murdering a four-year-old girl in a village in Bhor tehsil of Pune district.

He allegedly lured the girl with the promise of food on Friday and took her to a cattle enclosure, where he allegedly sexually assaulted her and later killed her by hitting her with a stone, according to police.

The accused was remanded to police custody till May 7.

The crime has sparked massive outrage and protests, with demands for capital punishment for the accused.

Several political leaders cutting across party lines, including NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, Shiv Sena leader and Legislative Council Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe, and BJP Rajya Sabha member Medha Kulkarni, visited the victim’s residence to offer condolences.

The girl’s father, meanwhile, appealed to political leaders not to visit him until the accused is “hanged till death”.

“By the time I came to immerse the ashes of my daughter in Dehu village, I received calls from my family members that multiple politicians were coming to our residence to offer condolences. I appeal to all politicians that until my daughter receives true justice, until that accused is hanged, please do not visit my house. It’s a humble request,” he said in a video message.

“We will meet politicians, or anyone else who wishes to meet us, only after the accused is hanged,” he added.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured that the government would push for the death penalty for the accused in the Pune child rape-murder case, asserting that the state would fast-track the trial to ensure justice in “record time”.

A day earlier, hundreds of people blocked the Mumbai-Bengaluru highway in Pune, disrupting traffic on the busy route for about four hours.

The girl’s family members and other demonstrators placed the body on the road in the Navale Bridge area on Saturday evening and demanded stringent punishment for the 65-year-old accused.