Desk Correspondent , Mumbai - Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited Narsapur village in Pune district's Bhor tehsil on Monday and assured residents that the state government would ensure the 65-year-old accused in the brutal rape and murder of a four-year-old girl is hanged. The incident occurred on May 1 when the accused allegedly lured the child with food, sexually assaulted her in a cattle enclosure, and murdered her by hitting her with a stone. Shinde directed police to build a watertight case, file the chargesheet quickly, and pursue a fast-track trial with daily hearings while invoking stringent provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and POCSO Act to prevent any leniency due to the accused's age.

Residents submitted a memorandum demanding the death penalty, highlighting that the accused had committed similar offences twice in the past. Shinde informed villagers that he had discussed the matter with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who views the crime seriously. "The state government will not stay quiet until the culprit is hanged," Shinde said, adding that the Pune Superintendent of Police has been tasked with collecting strong evidence and appointing an experienced public prosecutor. The visit came amid widespread outrage, with protests blocking roads, including the Mumbai-Bengaluru highway, and demands for immediate justice following the discovery of the child's body.

Chief Minister Fadnavis had earlier promised on Sunday to push for capital punishment and a record-time trial. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray questioned the recurring nature of such crimes against women and girls in the state, urging the government to define "fast-track" action clearly and address systemic issues beyond reactive measures. The accused remains in police custody till May 7. The case has sparked statewide condemnation, underscoring the need for stronger deterrence against crimes targeting minors in Maharashtra.