The body of a seven-year-old girl was found in an under-construction mall in Ghaziabad’s Raj Nagar area on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, with her family claiming that she was gang-raped and murdered after she was kidnapped from near her home.
The body of the girl, the daughter of a construction worker who was staying near the construction site, was found in the mall around 1 a.m. on Saturday, police officers said. The family, originally from Bihar, has been living near the construction site for the past two years.
The father of the deceased told HT that the girl went missing around 7-8 pm on Friday. The father said: “We started searching for her, and after a few hours her body was found in the basement of the mall under construction. On camera, we saw two people taking my daughter. We discovered her body around one in the morning and immediately informed the police.”
No clothes on the body
The father added: “There were no clothes on her body, and there was bleeding from her head and face. Her hands and legs appeared to be broken as well. She was raped and killed.”
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) of Nandgram division, Priyashree Pal, said in an official statement: “Information was received at Nandgram police station around 1 am on Saturday that the body of a seven-year-old girl was recovered from an under-construction mall in Raj Nagar Extension. Senior officials examined the crime scene and a forensic team was also called. Several persons were arrested for questioning. A complaint has been received from the family. Investigation is underway.”
She added, “The autopsy will reveal more results. The investigation is ongoing.”
Senior police officers arrived at the scene after being informed, and teams also collected evidence for forensic examination from the crime scene. A police officer, who requested to remain anonymous, said, “The suspects hit her head with an iron rod.”
“We are investigating the matter as a case of rape and murder, and at present we cannot say whether it is a case of gang rape. Investigation is underway in this case, and an FIR has been registered. The girl’s body was found at the bottom of the mall under construction,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Dhawal Jaiswal told HT.
A case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections of gang rape, kidnapping, murder, common intent and provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (Pocso) Act has been registered at the police station.
