Ghaziabad Police Intensify Manhunt with Reward in Horrific Child Assault Case
In a tragic development in Ghaziabad, police are escalating efforts to apprehend the primary suspect in the alleged rape and murder of a four-year-old girl, offering a Rs 25,000 reward for information that leads to his capture. The accused, identified as the child's maternal uncle, remains at large one week after the heinous crime, with authorities struggling to trace him due to his lack of digital footprint.
Details of the Alleged Crime and Victim's Last Moments
The incident unfolded on April 11, when the young girl, the second of three siblings, was playing outside her home in the Teela Mod area around noon. According to family statements, she was eating ice cream while under the care of her blind grandfather, as her parents, both daily wage laborers, were away at work. The maternal uncle, who had rented a room nearby approximately a month prior, allegedly abducted her by promising to buy her more treats.
Police reports indicate that the accused took the girl to his rented accommodation, where he is suspected of sexually assaulting her before strangling her to death. He then allegedly disposed of her body by placing it under a parked white car in the same locality. The child's remains were discovered later that night, more than eight hours after she was reported missing, sparking widespread outrage and grief in the community.
Police Investigation and Forensic Evidence
An autopsy conducted on the victim confirmed the causes of death as rape and strangulation, aligning with the initial allegations. Forensic teams have been actively collecting evidence from the crime scene to build a robust case. Deputy Commissioner of Police Dhawal Jaiswal stated that five specialized police teams have been deployed, conducting raids across multiple districts including Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, and Delhi-NCR in pursuit of the fugitive.
Jaiswal highlighted the challenges in tracking the accused, noting, "He does not use a phone and has no social media account, which has made tracing him difficult." To overcome this, investigators have scrutinized footage from over 150 CCTV cameras, capturing images of the suspect with the girl before the crime and allegedly carrying her body to the dumping site. Authorities also revealed that the uncle is known to be addicted to drugs, with search operations focusing on parks and other locations he frequents.
Legal Proceedings and Community Impact
A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered at the Teela Mod police station under stringent legal provisions. The charges include sections 103(1) for murder, 238 for causing disappearance of evidence, and 65(2) for rape under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant clauses of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. This case underscores the urgent need for enhanced child safety measures and swift justice in such atrocities.
The Ghaziabad police's reward announcement aims to mobilize public assistance in locating the accused, emphasizing the community's role in supporting law enforcement during this critical investigation. As the manhunt continues, residents are urged to come forward with any information that could aid in bringing the perpetrator to justice and providing closure to the grieving family.
