Kalyan: Several hundred Kalyan residents attempted on Thursday to stop the ambulance carrying the body of the 13-year-old girl for the last rites, saying the rites should be conducted only after the accused had got the death penalty. Police then convinced the crowd through social workers and local BJP MLA Sulabha Gaikwad, after which the body was taken for cremation. Several thousand gathered for the funeral, demanding justice for the girl and death rap for the accused. When the body reached the crematorium, residents demanded an assurance of action from CM Devendra Fadnavis. DCP Atul Zende told the gathering the CM had issued an order that the case be heard in a fast-track court and had appointed a special public prosecutor. Several people asked how the accused, Vishal Gawli, had got out of jail despite three cases of sexual assault being registered against him. They said if police had collected proper evidence, the accused would not have got bail and would not have been able to commit such a heinous crime. Late Thursday evening, some residents of Kalyan held a candle-light march from near the girl’s house to Kolsewadi police station. On Thursday night DCP Zende went around the city, caught youths consuming alcohol in public places, made them do sit-ups and let them go after a warning.
