12-year-old raped, murdered; 2 held

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Panipat, January 14

The police have arrested two youths for allegedly murdering and raping a 12-year-old Dalit girl at Urlana village in Madlauda block of the district.

The body of the girl was found near a temple in the village early this morning.

A relative of the victim said that the girl was living with her maternal uncle since her birth and was studying in Class VI. She went to throw garbage around 5 pm yesterday, but did not return.

Some villagers found her naked body lying in an open area near the Balmiki temple and informed the family members and the police.

On getting information, Sandeep, SHO, Madlauda police station, along with forensic experts and dog squad reached the village.

Angry villagers demanded arrest of the accused and did not allow the police to take the body for a post-mortem examination.

Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police (SP) Rahul Sharma reached the village and assured the villagers to nab the accused at the earliest. On the assurance of the SP, the villagers allowed the police to take the body for the post-mortem examination.

In the meantime, the police arrested Pradeep (25) and Sagar (24) of the same village for allegedly murdering the girl.

According to the post-mortem report, the girl was strangulated to death, said the SHO. He said the accused pulled her into their house when she was going to throw the garbage. After murdering the girl, the accused had sex with the corpse for more than three to four hours, said the SHO.

The police recovered some burnt pieces of her clothes and other evidence from the spot, he added.

The SHO said a case under Sections 302, 201-B and 34 of the IPC and the POCSO Act had been registered against the accused.

The SP said the accused would be produced in a court tomorrow.