Navi Mumbai: Maharashtra Women Commission Chairperson Demands Death Penalty in Shilphata Temple Gang-Rape Case
Navi Mumbai, 26th July 2024: On Thursday, Maharashtra Women Commission Chairperson Rupali Chakankar visited the family of a 30-year-old woman who was tragically gang-raped and murdered at a Shilphata temple. Chakankar assured the family from Koparkhairane that she had called for the case to be expedited through a fast-track court.
“We are also demanding the death penalty for the accused. The police have been instructed to address all of the family’s concerns regarding the case,” Chakankar stated.
She commended the Shil Daighar police station officials for quickly solving the case and apprehending the perpetrators. Chakankar also raised concerns about the practices and training of temple priests, suggesting that they should undergo rigorous checks and training to prevent such violent incidents. “It’s crucial to evaluate the credentials and training of temple priests to ensure they are equipped to manage their responsibilities,” she added.
Chakankar highlighted the role of the ‘One Stop Centre’ for women facing domestic issues, stating that had the deceased sought help from this government initiative rather than visiting the temple, she might have been spared. “Many are unaware of the ‘One Stop Centre,’ a crucial resource for women in distress. In such situations, it is vital to seek help from such centres rather than other locations,” Chakankar noted.
On July 6, the victim left her home around 6 am after a dispute with her husband and mother-in-law. She arrived at the Ghol Ganapati temple in Shilphata by 10 am and spent the day there alone. The temporary priest, Santoshkumar Ramyagna Mishra, 45, offered her tea laced with cannabis. Once she was incapacitated, Mishra and his accomplices, Rajkumar Rampher Pandey, 54, and Shamsundar Pyarchand Sharma, 62, took turns raping her. When she regained consciousness the next morning, she was found partially clothed and injured. She tried to call for help but was killed by having her head smashed against the floor and subsequently strangled. Her body remained in the temple’s storeroom for a day before being discarded in a valley on July 8. A visitor discovered the body the following day, leading to police intervention.
In the aftermath, the victim’s husband and mother-in-law were arrested by the NRI Coastal Police for dowry harassment and cruelty, which had driven the woman to leave her home. Police Sub Inspector Meena Varhadi from the NRI Coastal Police Station has been suspended for failing to act promptly on the missing person’s complaint filed by the woman’s parents.
