Kopardi rape, murder: Ahmednagar crime branch to probe case

The gangrape and murder case of a minor girl in Ahmednagar's Kopardi village has been handed over to the district's crime branch and an Additional Superintendent of Police-rank officer will probe the matter, police said today.
The 15-year-old girl was brutally raped on July 13, allegedly by three men who inflicted injuries all over her body and broke her limbs before throttling her at Kopardi village in Ahmednagar.
The incident sparked public outrage as well as a political slugfest, with the Congress demanding Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' resignation on "moral grounds".
Fadnavis today said in the state Assembly that noted lawyer Ujjwal Nikam has been appointed as public prosecutor in the case and the government has given Rs five lakh solatium to the victim's family.

"Looking at the seriousness of the case, now we have transferred the investigation of the case to our local crime branch which will be investigated under the direct supervision of an officer of Additional Superintendent of Police rank," Ahmednagar Superintendent of Police Saurabh Tripathi said.
Several organisations today held demonstrations demanding stern action against the accused and also sought that the trial in the case should be done in a fast track court for speedy conviction.

"We have communicated the development so far in the case to the organisations (which held protests)," the SP said, adding the demonstrations were carried out in a peaceful manner and there was no law and order violation.

A senior Ahmednagar police officer said there were three persons allegedly involved in the crime and they have already been arrested.
"There are lot of rumours going on about one or two more suspects involved in the case. However, there is no other suspect in the case besides the three accused, who have already been arrested," the official said.
He said that even the girl's family members have named the three arrested persons as accused in the case.
Meanwhile, Santosh Gajre Patil of Sambhaji Brigade, which led today's demonstration in Ahmednagar, said the protest was carried out in a peaceful manner. Over 1,000 people participated in a rally at the collectorate office.

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Meanwhile, Maharashtra Women's Commission said it had taken a very serious note of the incident and recommended to the government that an ex-gratia Rs three lakh be given to the girl's family under the 'Manodhairya' scheme meant for women victims.
Chairperson of the Commission Vijaya Rahatkar told