- A seven-year-old girl was found dead in the basement of an under construction mall in Ghaziabad
- The body showed severe head injury and multiple fractures, the family said
- Several suspects have been detained and are under police questioning
A seven-year-old girl was found dead in the basement of an under-construction mall in Ghaziabad on Saturday, triggering shock and anger among locals.
A post-mortem examination has now confirmed that the girl was raped before her death, and that she died of a head injury.
The girl's body was recovered during the early hours on Saturday. Police have registered an FIR based on a complaint filed by the family.
The incident happened in Raj Nagar Extension area under Nandgram police station limits.
According to the victim's family, the girl's body was found with a severe head injury and multiple fractures. Her body was recovered from the basement of the building.
Police suspect she may have been thrown from the third floor of the under-construction structure. However, the exact sequence of events is yet to be established and remains under investigation.
Ghaziabad Police have detained four to five suspects and are currently questioning them. A case has been registered invoking sections related to rape, murder, the POCSO Act and kidnapping.
Among those identified, two suspects are currently on the run. Police are analysing CCTV footage from the area to establish exactly who was involved in the incident.
The girl's maternal uncle said the child had been missing since Friday evening and the family had been searching for her.
The victim's parents work as labourers at the same construction site and live in a makeshift shelter on the premises.
News of the child's death sparked outrage among residents, with some attempting to assault a security guard deployed at the site. Additional police personnel were deployed to maintain law and order.
Speaking to NDTV, DCP Rural Surendra Nath Tiwari said, "We received information around 1:00 am on July 11 that the body of a young girl was lying inside the under-construction mall. A police team from Nandgram Police Station immediately reached the spot. Senior officers also visited the crime scene to supervise the investigation. An FSL team examined the site and collected forensic evidence."
ACP Nandgram Priyashree Pal said police responded immediately after receiving information. She confirmed that forensic evidence had been collected, an FIR was registered based on the family's complaint, and several suspects were in custody for questioning.
The investigation is ongoing as police continue to examine CCTV footage and forensic evidence to establish the full circumstances of the case.
