Pune, 3rd October 2026: A 20-year-old man was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a four-and-a-half-year-old girl in Lohagaon, Pune. The incident came to light after the child's mother noticed her torn clothes and asked her about what had happened. The accused, identified as Hrutik Baburao Shinde (20), originally from Beed, has been remanded to six days of police custody by a court.
According to the police, the incident took place on Wednesday (September 30), when the girl's mother went out for work and left her daughter at a friend's house. Shinde, a relative of the friend, was present at the house. While the woman was busy in the kitchen, the accused allegedly sexually assaulted the girl, who was playing alone.
After returning home, the mother noticed the child's torn clothes and questioned her. The girl then disclosed the incident. Following this, the family approached the Lohagaon Police Station, where a case was registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The police arrested Shinde, and further investigation is underway.
Shiv Sena leader and president of the Stree Aadhaar Kendra, Dr Neelam Gorhe, took serious note of the incident and spoke to the victim's parents over the phone. She assured them of all possible assistance to help secure justice for the child.
Stree Aadhaar Kendra representatives Anita Shinde and Rakhi Jadhav visited the Lohagaon Police Station to review the investigation and met the victim's family to offer emotional support. Gorhe stressed the need for counselling, legal assistance and continued support for the family.
She also called for a fair and speedy investigation and demanded strict punishment for the accused. The organisation assured the family that it would continue to follow up on the case until justice is secured.
The incident has sparked concern over child safety in Pune, particularly following a recent case of sexual assault involving a minor girl in Vishrantwadi. Lohagaon Police are investigating the case.