Chicago, Aug 6 : Police in Chicago have said that 44 people were shot within 14 hours out of which five were killed, the media reported.

In three hours beginning at 1.30 a.m. on Sunday, police records show that 30 people were shot and two killed in 10 incidents, reports CNN.

The shootings lasted till 2 p.m.

"The city of Chicago experienced a violent night. Some of these instances were targeted and were related to gang conflicts in those areas," Bureau of Patrol Chief Fred Waller said Sunday afternoon.

In at least one incident, shooters opened fire into a crowded street party, Waller said.

Of the wounded, the oldest was 62 years of age and the youngest was 11. Before the particularly violent Sunday, there were six shootings, none fatal, on Friday, and 15 shootings, one fatal, on Saturday.

Chicago has struggled with high shooting and murder rates in recent years. But according to Waller, shootings were down 30 per cent from 2017 and murders decreased by 25 per cent.

June marked 15 straight months of fewer killings and shootings. However, on June 25, at least 21 were shot and two died.

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New Delhi (PTI): National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has condemned the alleged rape and murder of a four-year-old girl in Maharashtra's Pune, calling it "deeply distressing" and a "blot on humanity".

The girl was allegedly raped and killed by a 65-year-old labourer, who has a criminal record, in Bhor tehsil of Pune on Friday. The accused allegedly lured the child to a cattle enclosure on the pretext of giving her food. After raping her, he killed her by hitting her with a stone, according to police.

The accused has been arrested.

In a post on X on Saturday, Rahatkar said the incident in the Nasrapur area in Pune was heartbreaking and has shaken society.

"The brutal torture and murder of a four-year-old innocent girl in Nasrapur (Bhor, Pune) is deeply painful, heartbreaking, and shocking. It is a blot on humanity," she said.

She said Pune Rural police has arrested the accused and noted that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar have assured strict action in the case.

Rahatkar said the NCW has taken cognisance of the matter and written to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), requesting the body to ensure necessary and prompt action.

It has also been recommended that the case be pursued under stringent provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and be closely monitored from the filing of the chargesheet to proceedings in a fast-track special court to ensure time-bound justice, she added.

Ensuring justice for the victim and stringent punishment for the accused is a collective responsibility, the NCW chairperson underlined.

In a post on X, the NCW said it has taken suo motu cognisance of the extremely "heinous" incident.

"This heinous crime causes profound pain and outrage, and it highlights serious concerns regarding the safety of young girls," it said.

Strongly condemning this grave "inhuman act", the NCW said such crimes constitute a serious violation of children's rights and raise questions about society's security system.