A CCTV trail helped Delhi Police crack the murder of a 16-year-old girl whose decomposed body was found in an open field. Four suspects, including three juveniles, have been detained.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi/ September 18: A 16-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped and murdered before her body was dumped in an open field in northwest Delhi, where it remained for days before being discovered in an advanced state of decomposition, parts of it eaten by dogs.
Police said the girl was travelling in a tempo with the accused when they allegedly drank alcohol together before sexually assaulting and killing her. Her body was then abandoned near Jaipal Rana’s field in Swaroop Nagar along Kushak Road.
The remains were found on September 13. The body had decomposed so badly that police could not immediately establish the victim’s gender. One hand was found separated from the body.
The girl had not been reported missing. According to police, her family said she would frequently leave home and return after several days. Investigators also found that she and the accused were known to each other.
A case was registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
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With no eyewitnesses and the identity of the perpetrators initially unknown, investigators turned to CCTV footage. More than 50 cameras covering the crime scene and surrounding routes were examined.
A tempo was spotted near the area around the suspected time of the crime, although its registration number could not be read clearly because of poor visibility at night. Police teams tracked the vehicle through footage from multiple locations and eventually identified it.
During a night-long operation between September 15 and 16, police traced the tempo and identified its driver. Four suspects were subsequently detained, including three juveniles.
The adult accused has been identified as Shivam, also known as Sudama or Chuchu, a resident of Khadda Colony. The three juveniles, according to police, are aged 16 and 17.
Police said two knives allegedly used in the attack, clothes purportedly worn by the accused and the tempo were recovered.
Investigators are continuing to establish the exact sequence of events, determine the individual roles of the suspects and corroborate the evidence through forensic and technical examination.
