Minor girl raped and murdered in Pune, accused held
A 25-year-old man has been arrested for the rape and murder of a 9.5-year-old girl in Pune, Maharashtra. The incident has triggered public outrage and political criticism regarding the safety of women and children in the state.
Why it matters
The case has become a focal point for political debate in Maharashtra, highlighting systemic concerns about law enforcement, infrastructure, and the efficacy of the POCSO Act.
The 25-year-old accused allegedly raped and murdered a 9.5-year-old girl in Maharashtra’s Pune district, Pune rural police said on Wednesday (August 19, 2026).
According to the police, the incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon (August 18, 2026) in Pimpalwandi village, located in Junnar tehsil. “The accused was the deceased’s neighbour, who lured her to a sugarcane field about 1.5 km from the village under the pretext of offering her fruits. He then sexually assaulted and murdered her,” said Pune Rural SP Sandeep Singh Gill. The family reported their daughter missing around 6 p.m.
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