A 29-year-old man stands accused of murdering a minor girl in Pune’s Khed area after she rejected his sexual advances, with her body being found in the Bhima River near Manjarewadi following her disappearance prior to her elder sister’s engagement ceremony. The victim, a student at Hutatma Rajguru College, was reported missing on Friday when she didn’t return home after being last seen waiting on Pabal road for transportation.
The accused, identified as Navnath Kailas Manjare, allegedly approached the victim under the pretense of offering her a ride home. Instead of proceeding to her residence, Manjare diverted the route to his farm, where he allegedly attempted to sexually assault the young student. When she resisted his advances, the accused reportedly struck her with a stone, resulting in fatal injuries, before dragging her body to the nearby riverbed.
Law enforcement officials, under the direction of Police Sub-Inspector Snehal Raje, have launched a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the murder. The accused has been remanded to police custody for an eight-day period, during which investigators will gather vital evidence and establish a detailed timeline of events leading to the victim’s death.
The timing of this tragic incident has amplified its impact on the victim’s family, occurring just hours before what was meant to be a joyous celebration of her elder sister’s engagement. The case has drawn significant attention from local authorities, who are working to guarantee an exhaustive examination of all available evidence and witness testimonies.
This incident adds to the growing concern regarding the safety of young women in the region, particularly those traveling alone. The location of the crime, spanning from Pabal road to the agricultural area near the Bhima River, has become a focal point for investigators attempting to reconstruct the sequence of events that led to the victim’s death.
The investigation continues to progress as authorities work to build a strong case against the accused, with forensic teams collecting physical evidence from both the farm where the alleged assault took place and the riverbed where the victim’s body was discovered.
The eight-day police custody period will be essential in establishing the full extent of the crime and gathering additional evidence to support the prosecution’s case against Manjare.
