Minor girl lured with guava, killed after sexual assault in Pune
A nine-and-a-half-year-old girl in Pune district was allegedly lured with a guava, killed and sexually assaulted, and a neighbour was detained. The case has triggered calls for a thorough probe, stringent action and a fast-track trial.
A nine-and-a-half-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted and murdered after being lured away from her home with a guava in Maharashtra’s Pune district, police said. A 25-year-old daily-wage labourer from her neighbourhood has been taken into custody in connection with the case.
The incident took place on Tuesday afternoon in Pimpalwandi village of Junnar tehsil. According to Pune Rural Police, the accused and the girl knew each other and lived in the same neighbourhood.
GIRL TAKEN TO SUGARCANE FIELD
Police said the accused allegedly approached the girl while she was watching television at home and persuaded her to accompany him by offering her a guava.
He allegedly took her to a nearby sugarcane field, where the crime took place.
When the girl failed to return home by evening, her family began searching for her. They later approached the police, prompting an investigation.
CCTV HELPED POLICE TRACE ACCUSED
During the investigation, police examined CCTV footage from the area and found the girl accompanying the accused.
Police subsequently detained the man for questioning. He allegedly confessed to the crime and led investigators to the location where the girl's body was found.
A senior police officer said the accused allegedly killed the girl first to prevent her from raising an alarm and then sexually assaulted her.
The girl's body was recovered and sent for a post-mortem examination. Police have registered a case and are conducting further investigation.
PAWAR SEEKS FAST-TRACK TRIAL
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar described the incident as “extremely shocking and unfortunate” and directed police to conduct a thorough investigation and take stringent action against the accused.
Pawar also said she would request Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to ensure that the case is heard in a fast-track court.
Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Sandip Singh Gill said the accused and the victim belonged to the same community and were known to each other.