A shocking incident that has left the community outraged has come to light in Daund in Pune district, where a nine-year-old girl was allegedly murdered by her father in a fit of rage over a dispute related to school marks, police said.
The victim, identified as Anamika, was allegedly killed in a brutal manner using a wood-cutting machine. According to investigators, the accused later attempted to destroy evidence by wrapping the body in cloth and setting it on fire. Police have arrested the girl’s father, Shantaram Duryodhan Chavan, and her stepmother, Chinki Bhonsle, in connection with the crime.
Officials said Anamika was the daughter of Shantaram from his first marriage, while another child in the family, Sanskar, is her stepbrother. A few days before the incident, the children’s school results were declared. Sanskar had secured first rank, while Anamika stood second. Police said the family allegedly mocked the girl over her ranking.
Upset by the taunts, Anamika is said to have tampered with her stepbrother’s mark sheet, altering his rank. What began as a minor dispute between children escalated into a violent confrontation. According to police, the accused father took the matter seriously and, in a fit of anger, attacked the child with a wood-cutting machine, killing her on the spot.
After the incident, the accused allegedly tried to cover up the crime by burning the body. When police were alerted, they reached the spot and recovered the partially burnt remains. The body has been sent to Sassoon Hospital in Pune for DNA testing and further examination.
Police have also registered a case against the woman living with the accused, stating that she failed to inform authorities after the crime. Both accused have been taken into custody, and a case has been registered at Daund police station under relevant sections.
A week back in a Pune village, a four-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered by a 65-year-old labourer that triggered a widespread protest. The accused, who has a prior criminal record, was arrested, and police have assured swift action, including filing a chargesheet within 15 days and conducting the trial in a fast-track court. He has been remanded to police custody till May 7.
Priori to that, back in February 2026, a 13-year-old girl in the Pune city was allegedly kidnapped and sexually assaulted by an acquaintance who offered to drop her to school.
Cops had arrested 29-year-old Dnyaneshwar Suresh Rairikar from Warje Malwadi in connection with the crime and was remanded to police custody for two days.
As investigations continue, the back-to-back incidents have intensified concerns over child safety in Pune, with growing calls for stricter enforcement, accountability, and urgent systemic safeguards to prevent such tragedies.
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With inputs from Vasant More
