Mumbai:
The police have stepped up their vigil in Mumbai's Kurla suburb, days after the body of a nine-year-old girl was recovered from a local slum. The nine-year-old is the third girl who has been raped and killed here since February, sparking concerns about a serial killer targeting the locality.
The new reality in Kurla's Ali Dada estate slum: A police patrol outside schools and CCTVs on the roads.
The police are even advising school children not to speak to strangers.
This is in response to the blanket of fear in the area after the body of 9-year-old Nusrat Sheikh was found on Saturday.
The third girl under ten who was kidnapped from here and then raped and killed since February.
"The murders seem to be committed by the same man...a psychopath between the age of 21 and 25. We have formed 27 teams to investigate the case," said Sanjiv Dayal, Mumbai Police Commissioner.
So far, the police have made little headway, they are now questioning local key-makers; they suspect the killer used a duplicate key to enter the hutment where Nusrat's body was found.
"Police are not God. They are humans and are trying to solve the problem," said Ramesh Bagwe, Minister of State for Home.
For agitated parents, these efforts maybe too little too late. "Off course, we're afraid... these are little girls," said a worried parent.
Fears that will not abate until the killer is nabbed.