- विज्ञापन -
Thane: A couple has been arrested in Thane, Maharashtra, for the abduction, rape, and murder of a 13-year-old girl. This incident comes shortly after another case in Badlapur involving the assault of two nursery school girls, igniting public outrage and calls for severe punishment for the alleged perpetrators—Vishal Gawli, 35, and his wife Sakshi Gawli, 25.
According to reports, Vishal Gawli kidnapped the girl while she was playing near her home on Monday, took her to his residence, and committed the assault before killing her and abandoning her body near a cemetery in Bhiwandi, about 8 kilometers away. He was later captured on December 25 after police identified him through CCTV footage showing him buying alcohol at a local bar.
Thane Police assembled six teams to locate him, and he was eventually arrested with assistance from Buldhana Police. Sakshi was apprehended as well, outside their home in Kalyan. Police tracked Vishal down after noticing him leaving a salon where he had tried to alter his appearance by shaving his beard.
With a history of sexual offenses—including three molestation cases, two assault charges, and a previous POCSO case for which he was released on bail in August 2023—Vishal Gawli is noted as a repeat offender. This marks his third marriage, with Sakshi being his current wife.
As the case gained political attention, Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed the Thane police to pursue the death penalty for the accused. Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde visited the victim’s family, promising government support for a swift and harsh trial. The incident has drawn significant criticism from opposition parties, who argue that Thane has become a troubling area for crimes against women and children.
