In a horrific crime that has shaken Bengaluru, a six-year-old girl was found murdered last week after being raped and strangled. The medical examination has confirmed the sexual assault preceding her death.
Discovery of the Crime and Swift Police Action
The ghastly incident came to light last Tuesday when the victim's father, who works as a rag picker, approached the Whitefield police station to file a missing person complaint. Acting on the complaint, police launched a search operation. The same night, her body was recovered from a drain located near a temple in the Nallurahalli area.
Immediately initiating a manhunt for the killer, investigators identified a suspect. The police traced Yusuf Khan (35), a neighbour of the victim's family, to a train. Officers detained him when the train made a stop at Cuttack railway station. He was subsequently brought back to Bengaluru and placed under arrest on murder charges.
Motive Points to Personal Rivalry
Preliminary investigations by the police have revealed a backdrop of constant conflict between the accused and the victim's mother. The two regularly fought over various domestic issues and also had a professional rivalry, both being involved in scrap collection.
"Their disputes included matters like fetching drinking water and storing scrap materials outside their small houses," explained an investigating officer. It is believed that enraged by these ongoing fights and driven by rivalry, Khan kidnapped the young girl, raped her, and then strangled her to death before fleeing the city.
Pocso Charge Added to Case
Following the confirmation from the medical report, the police are now strengthening the legal case against the accused. A senior police officer informed the Times of India that a rape charge under the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (Pocso) will be added. "Now, we will add a rape charge under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (Pocso) to the case and proceed with the investigation," the officer stated. The investigation is ongoing to gather further evidence.
