Mumbai–Bengaluru Highway Protests: 3-Year-Old’s Rape-Murder Sparks Outrage, Govt Promises Swift Justice

Public anger over the rape and murder of a three-year-old girl in Pune has led to strong political responses, with senior Maharashtra leaders promising swift investigation, a fast-track trial and the toughest possible sentence for the 65-year-old accused, even as questions grow about past complaints against the same person.

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar visited the victim's family on Saturday and promised support from the administration. Calling the crime "shocking" and a "blot on humanity", Sunetra Pawar assured relatives that the government would seek a fast-track court hearing and push for strict punishment, while also stressing that officials were in constant touch with the family.

Pune rape-murder case: Government vows strict action and death penalty push

Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde instructed Pune rural police to focus on building a strong case, asking officers to secure solid evidence that can stand in court. In a statement, Eknath Shinde said, "Efforts should be made to ensure the accused gets the death penalty," underlining that investigators must present a watertight dossier when the matter reaches trial.

Devendra Fadnavis said on Sunday that he had directly engaged with the victim's father about the Pune rape-murder case. Fadnavis said, "I personally spoke to the victim's father twice yesterday. I explained to him that our objective is to ensure that the accused is awarded the death penalty. For this, we are taking all necessary steps through the high court to fast-track the filing of the charge sheet and the trial of the case."

Pune rape-murder case: Protest blocks Mumbai–Bengaluru highway

Public anger spilled onto the streets on Saturday when hundreds of protesters blocked the Mumbai–Bengaluru highway near Pune, halting traffic near the Navale Bridge stretch for nearly four hours. The child's relatives and other demonstrators placed the body on the road, demanding strict punishment for the accused and a rapid trial, as long queues of stranded vehicles formed in both directions.

The protest took place hours before the girl was cremated at the Vaikunt crematorium in Pune shortly after midnight, amid heavy police deployment around the area. Fadnavis later said, "Our effort is to complete the entire process in record time... We will ensure that there are no legal loopholes that could be misused... We have also given a written assurance to the victim's family that the case will be expedited in the court," emphasising that authorities wanted to calm public concern.

Pune rape-murder case: How the crime was committed and investigated

According to police, a team arrested Bhimrao Kamble, who lives in a neighbouring village, on Friday after reviewing CCTV images from a nearby private residence that showed Kamble walking with the child. Investigators allege Kamble took the girl to a cattle enclosure, sexually assaulted the child and then killed the victim by striking the head with a stone.

Officers said early findings indicated the child had been raped and gagged with a piece of cloth, which led to suffocation. "Police also found head injuries. A special team of four officers has been constituted. A chargesheet will be filed expeditiously," an official said, adding that a case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, with the accused in police custody till May 7.

Pune rape-murder case: Accused’s earlier sexual offence cases and public debate

Police records show Kamble faced sexual offence allegations earlier. "Kamble was first booked for molestation in 1998 but was later acquitted. A second case was registered against him in 2015 involving a minor relative, but the complaint was subsequently withdrawn. We will review both these past cases," officials stated, noting that investigators will also check for any other criminal history linked to Kamble.

Fadnavis said public anger over the Pune rape-murder case was understandable. "The incident is extremely serious, and public anger is natural and justified. However, some people are trying to take advantage of the situation and divert it in a different direction. I thank the victim's father for understanding the situation. After discussions with the Commissioner of Police, he decided to call off the protest. Unfortunately, some people were trying to stop him as well. We are aware of who those individuals are, but we do not wish to act on that right now. We stand firmly with the family. We will also investigate whether the accused has any prior criminal record and whether there were any lapses earlier in handling such cases," Fadnavis said.

The incident has also triggered wider discussion on how authorities respond to crimes against children. A poll question circulated after the Pune rape-murder case asked, "How do you feel about the measures taken by the government after this incident?", offering respondents options such as "Supportive" and "Disappointed", reflecting divided views on whether current steps are sufficient.