New Delhi: A teenage girl was allegedly gang-raped and stabbed to death before her body was dumped in an open field in northwest Delhi's Swaroop Nagar, police said. Four people, including three juveniles, have been apprehended in connection with the case.
According to police, the victim knew one of the accused and had gone to meet him. Investigators said the group later gathered inside a tempo, where they allegedly consumed alcohol before the girl was sexually assaulted.
Police said the girl was subsequently stabbed multiple times and her body was taken to a field near Kushak Road, where it was allegedly concealed under leaves and mud. The exact sequence of events and individual roles of those apprehended are being established as part of the investigation.
Decomposed Body Found in Field
The girl's body was discovered near Jaipal Rana's field on Kushak Road on September 13. By the time it was recovered, the body had decomposed significantly, making immediate identification difficult, police said.
Some parts of the body had been eaten by stray dogs, while one hand was found separated from the body, according to police. Residents alerted authorities after noticing the body in the field.
Police said the girl had not been reported missing by her family. Her relatives reportedly told investigators that she would sometimes leave home and return after several days.
CCTV Footage Helps Police Trace Suspects
A case was registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
With no apparent eyewitness to the crime and the identities of the suspects initially unknown, investigators examined footage from more than 50 CCTV cameras covering the area and adjoining routes.
During the analysis, police noticed a tempo moving near the suspected crime scene around the relevant time. Its registration number was initially unclear because of darkness. Investigators subsequently tracked the vehicle's movement across multiple CCTV locations and traced it to Khadda Colony in Swaroop Nagar.
The tempo's driver was identified and questioned. Further investigation led police to four people allegedly linked to the crime.
Three Juveniles Among Four Apprehended
Police identified the adult accused as 19-year-old Shivam alias Sudama alias Chuchu, a resident of Khadda Colony. The other three suspects are juveniles aged 16 and 17, police said.
Investigators recovered two knives allegedly connected to the crime, along with clothing allegedly worn by the accused and the tempo used in the incident.
Police said forensic and technical evidence is being examined to establish the complete sequence of events and determine the individual role of each suspect. Investigators are also examining whether anyone else was involved.
The investigation remains underway.
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