Thane: A day after the body of a missing 12-year-old girl was found in Thane’s Kolsewadi, the police arrested a couple for her murder.
The accused have been identified as Vishal Gawli, 35, who was arrested from Shegaon in Buldhana on Wednesday, and Sakshi Gawli, 25, his third wife, who was apprehended from Kalyan on Tuesday night. Police officer Bala Kumbhar said that preliminary investigation has indicated that the girl was sexually assaulted and strangled. However, the post-mortem report is awaited to confirm the assault.
About The Case
The investigating officer said the girl left home with Rs 20 to buy chocolate and snacks when the accused allegedly abducted her. After allegedly killing her, he sought help from his wife to dispose of the body. The girl’s parents lodged a missing person complaint at Kolsewadi police station on Monday evening after searching for several hours. On Tuesday at 10 am, her body was found near the wall of a graveyard at Bapgaon near Bhiwandi.
The police initially registered an FIR under section 137 (kidnapping) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). After the body was found, BNS section 103(1) (murder) and sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act were added to the case.
The police said Vishal Gawli is a history-sheeter, with four cases, including sexual assault, outraging the modesty of women, and two bodily offences, said senior police inspector Ashok Kadam. The police are examining CCTV footage from various areas to probe if more persons were involved in the crime. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-III Kalyan) Atul Zende said they have formed six teams to probe the case and the accused will be produced in court on Thursday.
“We have seized an auto-rickshaw that was used in the crime,” he said.
On Wednesday, hundreds of locals with their mouths covered with black cloth took out a protest march and carried banners and placards demanding stringent action against the accused. MLA Sulbha Gaikwad from Kalyan East visited the Kolsewadi police station and demanded strict action. MP Shrikant Shinde from Kalyan also met the family of the deceased girl and said that the state government will endeavour to build a strong case against the accused.
