Missing Bengal Schoolgirl's Mutilated Body Found In Sack, Teacher Arrested

A schoolgirl from West Bengal who was missing for 20 days, has been found dead. The dismembered body of the Class 7 student was found from a waterlogged area near Birbhum's Kalidanga village. Her family has accused a school teacher, Manoj Kumar Pal, of abducting and murdering her. The teacher has been arrested.

The girl, a resident of Birbhum's Rampurhat area, was studying at a school in Shyampahari. 

News agency Press Trust of India, quoting an un-named police officer, reported that the teacher had been sexually abusing the girl.

"The parents of the girl have lodged a complaint alleging that the teacher had been touching their daughter inappropriately several times. The accused has admitted to kidnapping and murdering the girl before dumping her body," the officer was quoted as saying. 

The girl had previously informed her mother about the teacher misbehaving with her. After she went missing, her mother informed the police about the matter. "Suspecting his role, we arrested the teacher, and after questioning for a long time, he confessed to kidnapping and murdering the minor," he said, reported PTI.

Family sources said the girl had left home on August 28 to attend tuition classes. But when she failed to return, the family filed a missing person's report. They alleged that they learned later that the teacher, Manoj Kumar Pal, had abducted her. 

Early on Tuesday, the local police recovered her decomposed body. Superintendent of Police Amandeed confirmed over phone that no rape case has been filed yet. A murder case has been registered and the body has been sent for postmortem examination.

The police chief said the body had been dismembered and dumped in the water.

The police said they are investigating why the teacher killed the student and whether she was subjected to any physical abuse before her death. However, due to the decomposition of the body , the investigation is facing difficulties. The arrested teacher, who was placed in the custody of the police for nine days, is being interrogated.