Brutal Crime Shocks Malegaon Village
The Nashik Rural police have arrested a 24-year-old man for the alleged kidnapping, rape, and brutal murder of a three-and-a-half-year-old girl, a crime that has sent shockwaves through the community. The accused, identified as Vijay Khairnar, a fabric worker from the same village, was taken into custody shortly after the heinous act, which involved crushing the child's head with a stone.
Timeline of a Tragedy
The incident unfolded on a Sunday afternoon when the young victim went out to play. When she failed to return home by 6 pm, her worried parents and relatives initiated a frantic search. After two-and-a-half hours of searching yielded no results, a formal missing complaint was lodged with the police.
Later that night, the search efforts of local villagers came to a tragic end. The girl's body was discovered near a mobile tower, barely 300 metres from her home. The condition of her disfigured face immediately indicated foul play, prompting an alert to the police authorities.
Swift Investigation and Arrest
Acting swiftly on the alert, the police launched an immediate investigation. During the investigation, children who had been playing with the victim provided a crucial lead, informing officers that she was last seen with the accused, Vijay Khairnar.
Khairnar was promptly detained for questioning. "The accused did not want his act with the victim should come out. So, he killed the victim," stated Police Inspector Pritam Chaudhary of the Malegaon Taluka police station, confirming that the suspect confessed during interrogation.
The victim's body was sent to Malegaon General Hospital for a post-mortem examination to ascertain the full extent of the crime. Given the gravity of the offence, the investigation moved rapidly, leading to Khairnar's arrest. He was produced before the court and has been remanded to police custody until November 20.
Public Outrage and Demand for Justice
As news of the gruesome crime spread, residents of villages around Malegaon erupted in anger. The public outcry manifested in protests and the blocking of the Malegaon–Kusumba Road, reflecting the community's deep anguish.
A senior officer from the Malegaon Taluka police confirmed that while the situation remained tense for several hours, it has since been brought under control. In the wake of the arrest, villagers have demanded that the trial be conducted in a fast-track court to ensure swift justice for the innocent victim.
