Pune Court Sentences Man to Death for Gruesome Crime Against Young Girl

Severe Punishment for Heinous Crime

Pune, Jun 29: A special court in Pune has handed down a death sentence to a 65-year-old man for the kidnapping, rape, and murder of a three-year-old girl in Nasrapur village, a case that has ignited significant public outrage and protests throughout Maharashtra.

Describing the case as one of the "rarest of the rare", Additional Judge S R Salunkhe delivered the sentence while the convict, Bhimrao Kamble, stood in the witness box.

Upon hearing the verdict, the victim's family was visibly distraught in the courtroom.

The court noted, "The crimes committed are of a grave nature, involving murder and rape by an individual with a prior criminal history and a record of serious assaults."

Kamble was found guilty on June 25, just 60 days after the crime occurred on May 1.

He had lured the young girl with promises of snacks and the sight of a newborn calf, taking her to a shed near a cattle barn where he subjected her to sexual assault and ultimately murdered her by suffocation and inflicting injuries to her chest.

Judge Salunkhe remarked, "The nature of the crime was appalling, involving extreme cruelty and torture of an innocent child. The murder was driven by lust, showcasing utter depravity. It was a calculated act of violence that shocks both the judicial system and societal norms."

The prosecution argued for the death penalty, asserting that Kamble was "beyond rehabilitation" and had a history of offenses against a 62-year-old woman, a 17-year-old girl, and even an animal.

While the defense cited Kamble's age and his denial of the charges as reasons for leniency, the court concluded that his age was an aggravating factor.

"The accused's lust remains unabated even at his age, having escalated to a perilous level. The injuries inflicted on the victim highlight the inhumane actions of the accused against a mere three-year-old child," the judge stated.

He further noted that the accused acted with complete disregard for the consequences, having previously experienced leniency in court despite his past offenses.

Judge Salunkhe emphasized that despite the implementation of stringent laws and special courts following the Nirbhaya case to expedite trials for crimes against children, such horrific incidents persist, leaving society in a state of shock.