Ranchi Girl's Murder: Foster Father and Brother Arrested After 20 Days
In a tragic development from Ranchi district, police have made arrests nearly three weeks after the brutal murder of a 13-year-old girl. The victim, a resident of Jakhratand village, was killed on March 13, and her foster brother and father have now been taken into custody.
Details of the Arrest and Investigation
The accused have been identified as Rahul Pathak and his father Subodh, who worked as a priest. According to police reports, the girl's biological father, a widower and physically challenged individual, had entrusted her to Subodh when she was just five years old. However, no formal legal adoption procedures were ever completed for this arrangement.
The investigation gained momentum on April 2 when alert villagers noticed unusual post-death rituals being conducted at Subodh's residence. This prompted them to inform the authorities immediately. Police teams initially attempted to locate the girl at her biological parents' native place in Aurangabad, Bihar, but to no avail. A forensic team was also dispatched to thoroughly examine Subodh's house for evidence.
Confession and Motive Behind the Crime
During intensive interrogation, both Subodh and Rahul confessed to the murder. SP (Rural) Praveen Pushkar revealed that the motive stemmed from Rahul's fear that the girl was involved in a relationship with his brother-in-law. He believed this association would bring immense shame and dishonor to the family.
Frequent quarrels erupted over this issue, culminating in a violent confrontation on March 13. After another heated argument, Rahul physically assaulted the victim and ultimately strangled her to death. Shockingly, a doctor was summoned to the house, who declared the girl dead and provided an ambulance to the duo to dispose of her body. Authorities are currently searching for this doctor as part of the ongoing investigation.
Body Disposal and Police Findings
Police disclosed that the family transported the victim's body to Gaya for the final rites. A prayer meeting was subsequently held in Jakhratand village. Despite the circumstances, police have not officially classified this murder as an honor killing case. Further probe has uncovered that Rahul was also apprehensive about his father potentially transferring property rights to the girl, adding another layer to the motive.
The arrests mark a significant breakthrough in a case that has horrified the local community. Investigations continue as authorities piece together the full sequence of events and ensure justice is served for the young victim.
