Locals in Maharashtra`s Malegaon on Friday took to streets and held a massive protest outside a court in the Nashik district following the alleged rape and murder of a four-year-old girl, reported the PTI.

The demonstrators demanded capital punishment for the accused.

A shutdown was also observed in Malegaon, and thousands of people participated in a foot march. Some protesters attempted to enter the court premises but were stopped by police, officials said, according to the PTI.

State Minister Narhari Zirwal assured that the accused would face the harshest punishment. He visited the victim’s family in a village in Malegaon taluka, accompanied by Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange.

“This is a horrific crime. I will raise this matter in the Cabinet. The accused will be tried in a fast-track court and efforts will be made to secure the death sentence within two months,” Zirwal told reporters. He also said he would request the government to appoint senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam as the public prosecutor in this sensitive case, as per the PTI.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad criticised the Fadnavis-led Mahayuti government, saying the rising number of crimes shows that women and young girls are not safe in the state. She demanded that CM Devendra Fadnavis hand over the home department to a full-time home minister.

According to police, the minor girl was allegedly raped and bludgeoned to death with a stone in Dongrale village on November 16. One person has been arrested and is in police custody until November 27.

The brutal crime has sparked widespread outrage, with citizens and local organisations calling for a swift investigation and exemplary punishment.

Maharashtra Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal condemned the incident, calling it “shocking and extremely serious.”

He demanded that the accused be tried in a fast-track court and handed the death penalty.

Speaking on the law-and-order situation in the state, Sapkal criticised the government for allowing criminals, mafias, and gangsters to operate freely and accused the police of acting selectively against opposition members. He also referenced the case of Satara doctor`s suicide and accused ruling alliance leaders of shielding the guilty.

Sapkal warned that continued inaction could trigger public anger.

(with PTI inputs)

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