Pune, 3 May 

Hundreds of people blocked the Mumbai-Bengaluru highway in Pune to protest the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl, leading to traffic disruption 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. They demanded stringent punishment for the 65-year-old man arrested in the case.

The accused man, who works as a labourer and has a criminal record, allegedly lured the girl with the promise of food on Friday in the Bhor tehsil of Pune district. He then took her to a cattle enclosure where he allegedly sexually assaulted her and later killed her by hitting her with a stone, according to the police.

He was arrested based on CCTV footage from a private residence, which captured him with the child. 

A case was registered against him under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and he has been remanded in police custody till 7 May.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl in the 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.

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 with politicians, or anyone else who wishes to meet us, only after the accused is hanged, he added.

Several videos surfaced showing a huge traffic jam on the highway.

Later, the victim's last rites were performed at the Vaikunt crematorium here shortly after midnight amid tight police security.

The crime has sparked massive outrage and protests, raising calls for capital punishment for the accused.
 

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar on Saturday met the family of the victim, assuring them of strict action against the accused and a fast-track trial.

Describing the incident as "shocking" and a "blot on humanity", Pawar said the government stands firmly with the victim's family and will ensure justice.

She also spoke to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and sought a fast-track court trial so that the accused receives the harshest punishment.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured that the government will push for a death penalty for the accused in the Pune child rape-murder case, asserting that the state will 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.