Kanpur Police Apprehend Main Suspect in Minor's Rape and Murder Following Late-Night Encounter
In a significant development in a harrowing case, the primary suspect in the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl was arrested by Kanpur police after sustaining injuries during an encounter in the Bidhnu area late Wednesday night. The accused, identified as Sunny, 26, was found in possession of a country-made pistol and multiple cartridges at the time of his capture.
Police Action and Arrest Details
The Bidhnu police station had registered the case as Case No. 73/2026 on March 18 under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Initial investigations led to the apprehension of two other suspects, Kamal (22) and Ashish (32), both residents of Gram Madhaupur Katherua, near the Gram Madhaupur turn on Wednesday.
Following their interrogation, authorities intensified the search for the third suspect, Sunny, son of Ganesh Shankar. At approximately 11:20 pm, police spotted Sunny moving suspiciously near the canal bridge in Bidhnu. When officers surrounded the area, Sunny allegedly opened fire, prompting retaliatory action from the police that resulted in his injury.
Sunny was immediately taken into custody and transported to the Community Health Centre in Bidhnu for medical treatment. Law enforcement officials seized a .315 bore country-made pistol, two live cartridges, two empty shells, and one misfired cartridge from his possession. Subsequently, Case No. 76/2026 was filed under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act at the Bidhnu police station.
Case Background and Victim Details
The tragic incident came to light when the body of an 11-year-old girl was discovered on Tuesday, buried in a field approximately 500 meters from her residence. The postmortem examination confirmed that the victim had been raped and subsequently strangled to death, with additional injuries and scratch marks evident on her body.
According to the girl's father, his daughter, a Class V student, had gone to graze goats with her elder sister on Monday afternoon. While the elder sister returned home, the younger girl went missing. After an extensive search proved futile, the family reported her disappearance to the Bidhnu police station at 7 pm.
Bidhnu station in-charge Tej Bahadur Singh led efforts to locate the girl, combing through the village and surrounding fields. On Tuesday morning, freshly dug soil was noticed in a nearby field, leading to the grim discovery of the victim's body upon excavation.
Official Statement and Legal Proceedings
Police Commissioner Raghubir Lal emphasized that legal action is being pursued against all three suspects, who have been presented in court and remanded to jail. He reiterated the state police's zero-tolerance policy towards such heinous crimes, underscoring the commitment to justice and public safety.
The swift police response and subsequent arrests highlight the ongoing efforts to combat violent crimes against minors in the region, with authorities ensuring that all aspects of the case are thoroughly investigated under the stringent provisions of the law.
