- Seven-year-old girl found dead in Ghaziabad mall basement.
- Post-mortem confirmed rape and murder by head injury.
- Police investigating, two arrested, public outrage.
Ghaziabad: A seven-year-old girl was found dead in the basement of an under-construction mall in Ghaziabad's Raj Nagar Extension in the early hours of Saturday. A post-mortem examination has confirmed that the girl was raped before being murdered and that she died of a head injury.
Following the recovery of the body, the Nandgram police registered an FIR based on a complaint filed by the victim's family, and an investigation into the incident is underway. Meanwhile, police have arrested two suspects based on CCTV footage, including a man named Shahabuddin and a 16-year-old minor, both workers at the under-construction mall.
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Victim's Family Says Child Was Found With Head Injury And Multiple Fractures
According to the victim's family, the seven-year-old girl's body was recovered from the basement of the under-construction building with a severe head injury and multiple fractures.
The investigation revealed that the accused lured the girl to the third floor of the mall on the pretext of buying her chips, samosas, and a cold drink. There, they raped her and then killed her by hitting her on the head with an iron rod. Her body was then thrown from the third floor. According to family members, the body was found in a pool of blood in the basement.
Ghaziabad Police have registered a case invoking sections related to rape, murder, kidnapping, and the POCSO Act. Subsequently, four to five suspects were detained for questioning, while a search is underway for two suspects who are currently on the run. Investigators are also analysing CCTV footage from the area to establish the identities of everyone involved in the incident.
Child Went Missing On Friday
The girl's maternal uncle stated that the child went missing on Friday and the family has been searching for her. The victim's parents work as labourers at the under-construction site and live in a makeshift shelter on the premises.
Tensions Rise At Under-Construction Site
As news of the child's death spread, widespread outrage erupted among local residents, with some attempting to assault a security guard deployed at the site. In response to the growing tension, additional police personnel were quickly deployed to the area to maintain law and order.
DCP Rural Surendra Nath Tiwari told NDTV, "We received information around 1:00 am on July 11 that the body of a young girl was lying inside the under-construction mall. A police team from Nandgram Police Station immediately reached the spot. Senior officers also visited the crime scene to supervise the investigation. An FSL team examined the site and collected forensic evidence."
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Nandgram Priyashree Pal stated that an FIR has been registered based on the family's complaint and several suspects are currently in custody for questioning. Police are investigating the case from all possible angles.
(With Inputs From Jagran.com And PTI)