A 65-year-old man has been issued with a death sentence after luring a three-year-old girl with snacks before raping and murdering her. Bhimrao Kambale committed the crime in Nasrapur village in the Pune District of Maharashtra, India, on May 1. He was dealt with via a “fast-track” court, convicting Kambale within 60 days of the killing. Kambale is believed to have lured the girl, promising her snacks, and showed her a newborn calf. He was then accused of taking the child to a shed, where he assaulted and killed her.
Additional Judge S R Salunkhe said: “The offence was committed outrageously and involved inhuman treatment and torture of the victim. The victim was an innocent, helpless child. The murder was committed to satisfy lust, which evidences total depravity. It was a cold-blooded murder without provocation. The crime was committed so brutally that it shocks not only the judicial conscience but even the conscience of society.”
They added: “The only circumstance that could be posed is the age of the accused, 65 years. According to me, this cannot be taken as mitigating. Rather, it is aggravating.”
The family of the victim broke down in court as the sentence was read out, ETV Bharat reported.
Special Public Prosecutor Advocate Ajay Misar said: “In this judgment, the prosecution concluded that all the charges against the accused were proven beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar said: “The court’s verdict in the deeply distressing case of the rape and murder of a minor girl from Nasrapur, in Pune district, reinforces faith in the judicial system. There is no place in society for such heinous acts.
“The safety of every girl and woman is this government’s top priority, and the resolve to take stringent action against such crimes remains steadfast.
“Justice has been served, yet society and the administration must remain collectively vigilant to ensure such incidents do not recur.
“There is no pardon for barbaric crimes like rape and murder. The court’s decision strengthens confidence in the judiciary. Our government is committed to women’s safety, and the strictest possible action will continue to be taken against criminals who harbour such depraved mindsets.”
