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Mumbai-Bengaluru highway traffic disrupted as hundreds protest rape and murder of 3.5-year-old girl in Pune
Hundreds protested in Nasrapur, Pune, after the rape and murder of a 3.5-year-old girl. The family and others laid the child’s body on Navale Bridge during a peaceful sit-in, which escalated into a highway obstruction causing major traffic on the Mumbai-Bengaluru corridor. A 65-year-old man was arrested in connection with the case.
Why It Matters
The incident highlights concerns about child safety and the impact of protests on major transport routes, as well as the policing response to horrific crimes.
Timeline
3 Events
Arrest of 65-year-old man in connection with the case
May 3, 2026
Police arrested a 65-year-old man for sexually assaulting and killing the girl in a cow shed in Nasrapur village.
Highway blocked; traffic disrupted on Mumbai-Bengaluru route
May 2, 2026
During the peaceful protest, demonstrators attempted to block the Mumbai-Bengaluru highway, leading to severe traffic disruption and long queues on the highway, with social media visuals showing large lines of vehicles.
Protest begins in Nasrapur; body placed on Navale Bridge; peaceful sit-in
May 2, 2026
Hundreds of people gathered in Nasrapur village, Bhor taluka, to protest the rape and murder of a 3.5-year-old girl. The girl's family and other protesters placed her body on the Navale Bridge area and began a peaceful sit-in demanding strict punishment for the accused.