Story Content

A special court for crimes under the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses) in Pune has handed down a death sentence to 65-year-old Bhimrao Prabhakar Kamble in the brutal rape and murder of a three-and-a-half-year-old girl in Nasrapur village. The court termed the crime as the 'rarest of the rare' and said that the assault was of a very heinous nature.

The fast-track trial was held in less than 60 days on the basis of CCTV footage, DNA evidence, and circumstantial evidence, such as the ‘last seen together' theory. The judge observed that even death might not be adequate punishment for the atrocities committed on the helpless child.

The accused had previous offenses relating to molestation and enticed the child before he/she committed the gruesome act. The verdict has brought some closure to the grieving family and the community that protested for quick justice.

This case serves as a success story on the use of fast-track courts to deal with child sexual violence cases under POCSO laws. The sentence will be subject to confirmation by the higher court.