The father of the four-year-old girl who was sexually assaulted and murdered in Nasrapur in Pune district on Sunday appealed to political leaders not to visit his home to offer condolences until his daughter gets justice and the accused is awarded capital punishment, news agency ANI reported.
In a self-recorded video, the grieving father made a “humble request” on behalf of his family, asking politicians to refrain from visiting them at this time. He said the family would be willing to meet anyone, including political leaders, only after justice is delivered in the case.
“We are currently in Dehu to immerse my daughter`s ashes. During this time, I`ve been informed by relatives and friends that several politicians have been visiting our home to offer condolences etc. I want to make one humble request on behalf of my family and myself until my daughter receives justice and the accused is awarded the death penalty, no politician should come to our home to meet us. We will only be open to meeting anyone, including politicians, once justice is served. Until then, we request that no visits be made to offer condolences,” the father is heard saying in the video.
A four-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted and murdered by a 65-year-old man from the surrounding area in a village in Pune district. According to Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Sandeep Singh Gill, the accused has two similar cases registered against him.
The accused was arrested shortly after the incident came to light. The girl had gone missing, following which her family began searching for her, and CCTV footage later showed the accused with the child.
Speaking with ANI, SP Gill said, “The accused is a 65-year-old man who lives in the surrounding area. He lured the girl and did this…We arrested the accused within an hour of receiving information…The accused has two similar cases registered against him, including a POCSO case in 2015. Investigation reveals that he is of this tendency.”
Raut calls govt ‘useless’, Fadnavis hits back at Opposition over ‘cash-for-transfer’ remark
The incident has triggered criticism of the Maharashtra government, with Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut calling the state government “useless” and “incompetent”.
“A 4-year-old girl was raped in this State. Criminals should fear the law. This government is responsible for this. The government is busy with VIP security and spends a month each touring Tamil Nadu, Keralam, Assam, and Bengal. Who will look after things here?,” said Raut.
“Perhaps the mother of the child who was raped and murdered could be this government`s own ‘Ladli Behna’. Can you buy that mother`s emotions for Rs 1,500? The real accused is this government, which is useless and incompetent. What is the police doing there? What is happening in this country? The Constitution is being violated. And you are lathi-charging the public who came out carrying that child`s dead body,” he added.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hit back at the opposition, accusing it of failing to introspect on its own conduct during its tenure.
Addressing reporters, Fadnavis said it was a “laughable matter” that those involved in the “cash for transfer” scandal were attempting to “lecture” the government.
“Opposition is that they never introspect or look into their own conduct. They fail to acknowledge what transpired during their own tenure. If people involved in ‘cash-for-transfers’ scandals attempt to lecture us, it would truly be a laughable matter,” said Fadnavis.
(With ANI inputs)