Protests erupt in Malegaon after murder of 3-year-old girl, court proceedings shift online

A sessions court in Malegaon, Maharashtra held its proceedings via video conferencing on Thursday after protests broke out in the region over rape and murder of a 3-year-old girl in Dongrale village on November 16, according to reports.

The protestors reportedly blocked multiple places including outside the court.

As per case details, the accused, whose custody was extended on Thursday after the video hearing, allegedly lured the child with a chocolate, as per reports.

Police were approached by the parents after their girl went missing. She was later found dead near the accused’s residence.

Earlier on Monday, the kin had refused to claim the body, demanding capital punishment for the accused, as per reports.

In a similar case in Bengal, on Novermber 17, police had  arrested a man for allegedly raping and murdering his 8-year-old cousin after luring her with chocolate in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district. 

The accused, identified as Habibullah Laskar, confessed to the crime, officials said on Monday.

The incident occurred several days ago in Fakirpara under the Usthi police station. The child went missing while playing near her home, prompting her family to file a missing complaint. Her body was discovered the next morning near her house, with one eye gouged out. 

Earlier this month, a separate case of sexual assault was reported in the same Usthi area, where a father was arrested for repeatedly raping his 14-year-old daughter following a complaint by the mother.

(with inputs from syndicated feed)