Four-Year-Old Girl's Rape-Murder Triggers Massive Protest In Pune; Highway Blocked Near Navale Bridge

Pune: Hundreds of people blocked the Mumbai-Bengaluru highway in Maharashtra's Pune to protest against the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl. Due to this, traffic on the highway was disrupted for about four hours. The girl's family members and other protesters placed the victim's body on the road in the 'Navale Bridge' area on Saturday evening and demanded strict punishment for the 65-year-old man arrested in the case.

When was the victim cremated?

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

The accused man works as a labourer and has a criminal record. Police said that the accused allegedly lured the girl by promising her food on Friday and took her to a cattle shed where he sexually assaulted her and then killed her by hitting her with a stone.

#WATCH | Maharashtra: A four-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted and murdered by a 65-year-old man in a village in Pune district.

Local villagers take out a protest march, demanding strict action against the accused. pic.twitter.com/tYYVUkfFAg

— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2026

What is there in the video?

CCTV footage from a private residence showed the accused taking the girl with him. The incident came to light after the girl went missing in the afternoon, following which her family launched a search and her body was later discovered.

Police immediately detained the accused and the body was sent to the hospital for a postmortem.

VIDEO | Pune rape-murder case: Complete shutdown observed across Bhor-Rajgad talukas; public demand strict action against culprit.

(Full video available on https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/foslRXtEBp

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 3, 2026

What did the police say?

Based on the complaint of the girl's mother, the police have registered an FIR against the accused under sections 137(2), 103, 64, 74, 140(1), 140(3) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sections 4, 3, 8, and 12 of the POCSO Act.

The accused was produced before a special court in Pune, where he was remanded to police custody until May 7. 

A charge sheet will be filed within 15 days, and the case will proceed to a fast-track court.

What did officials say?

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 "stain on humanity", Pawar said the government stands firmly with the victim's family and will ensure justice.

Sunetra Pawar also spoke to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the matter and demanded a speedy trial so that the accused gets the harshest punishment. 

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday directed the Pune Rural Police to gather solid evidence and prepare a strong case in the matter and conduct the trial in a fast track court. According to an official statement, Shinde has directed to ensure that the accused gets the maximum punishment, i.e. death penalty.