9-Year-Old Girl Raped, Murdered in Pune; Family Blocks Highway Demanding Death Penalty

The victim, a Class 4 student and the daughter of farm laborers, had remained at home on Tuesday after falling ill. According to the preliminary police investigation, the accused, identified as Sahil Khaire, allegedly exploited the absence of the girl’s parents during the afternoon to rape and subsequently strangle her. When the child was found missing later that day, her family and local residents launched a search across the vicinity. After their initial efforts proved unsuccessful, a missing person complaint was filed with the police.

During the ensuing search operation, the accused reportedly joined the police and villagers in the hunt for the missing girl. However, investigators made a breakthrough after reviewing CCTV footage from the area, which captured a suspicious individual traveling on a bicycle. When confronted with the recording, Sahil Khaire allegedly admitted to being the person on the bicycle and subsequently confessed to the crime. His confession led the authorities to the girl’s body, which had been hidden beneath a tree near a stream.

The body has since been sent for a post-mortem examination, while a forensic team has gathered evidence from the crime scene. Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar condemned the act, describing it as an incident that brought shame to humanity. After receiving a detailed briefing from Pune Rural SP Sandeep Singh Gill, she directed the administration to ensure a transparent probe. She further stated that she would make a special request to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to move the case to a fast-track court to ensure swift justice.

Tensions remained high as Pune Rural SP Sandeep Singh Gill visited the site during the night, where he was surrounded by villagers demanding capital punishment. A relative of the victim, speaking through tears, insisted that the perpetrator must be hanged regardless of his community background. She emphasized that the family would not move until justice was served for the young girl who was trapped and killed while her parents were away working for their livelihood.