Pune: The women of Varve village have sent an urgent letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding strict punishment for a 17-year-old who sexually assaulted a two-year-old girl and threatened to kill her family.

In their letter, the women emphasized that the accused should not be treated as a juvenile due to the gravity of his crime and insisted on a harsh penalty.

This horrific incident took place last week in a village in Bhor taluka, near the Satara highway, when a 17-year-old boy residing in rented accommodation attacked the young child. The crime has sparked widespread anger and fear among the villagers.

In response, Varve village and its local businesses observed a complete shutdown as a sign of protest. The protest saw the participation of elderly residents, youth, and a large number of women and girls, who came together to express their outrage.

On Thursday, September 26, Varve Khurd witnessed a day-long bandh as a collective demonstration of the community's pain and anger. In the early hours, villagers, including senior citizens and young people, gathered in significant numbers to show solidarity with the victim.

The protesters first assembled at the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Memorial, where they paid homage before taking to the streets. Women and young girls led the protest march throughout the village, condemning the crime and demanding justice.

The villagers voiced their concerns, highlighting that the perpetrator was an outsider who had moved into the village on rent. They expressed their frustration over such incidents bringing a bad name to their community and called for stricter verification procedures before allowing non-locals to reside in their area. 

The protestors lamented the shameful nature of the crime, which they described as a stain on humanity, and highlighted the atmosphere of fear that now prevails in nearby villages.

During the protest, women passionately called for justice, stating that the accused should not be treated leniently because of his age. They insisted that he be tried as an adult and face the death penalty, aligning their demands with those voiced in similar cases elsewhere.