Maharashtra’s Malegaon remained on edge on Thursday as protests erupted over the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl, with demonstrators blocking major roads, surrounding the Sessions Court and demanding the death penalty for the accused.

The unrest forced the court to conduct proceedings through video conferencing, extending the accused’s police custody until November 27.

PROTESTERS STORM COURT PREMISES

Large crowds gathered at Camp, Mosam Bridge and outside the Sessions Court early in the day, bringing traffic to a halt.

Protesters shouted slogans, threw slippers at the court gate and attempted to break it open. Police struggled to restrain the crowd despite heavy deployment.

Officers resorted to a mild lathi charge after repeated appeals went ignored. The agitation continued inside the court complex, making it unsafe to produce the accused in person.

CUSTODY EXTENDED VIA VIDEO LINK

With the court premises turning volatile, the hearing was shifted online. Additional Sessions Judge KR Patil extended the accused’s police custody until 27 November.

A police officer said the crowd refused to cooperate. “People were not ready to listen, and the court complex was becoming increasingly difficult to manage,” the officer said.

GIRL LURED WITH CHOCOLATE

Police said the accused allegedly lured the child with a chocolate and took her away. When she did not return, her parents alerted authorities. The girl’s body was later found near a mobile tower close to the accused’s house.

The brutality of the crime has fuelled anger across Malegaon, with residents demanding swift action.

MINISTERS, ACTIVISTS MEET FAMILY

Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan and Maratha activist Manoj Jarange met the victim’s family in the evening and assured them that they would push for stringent punishment.

– Ends