Jaipur, February 24 Police have arrested the main accused in the murder of a 13-year-old girl in the Bajju sub-division of Bikaner, Rajasthan.
The girl had left her home on February 21 to take her class 8 exam, but never reached the school.
Her family members found her semi-naked body a short distance from home, Superintendent of Police Kavendra Singh Sagar said.
In the wake of the murder, villagers staged a protest to pressure the authorities and refused to allow the post-mortem of the body.
The family eventually relented and allowed the autopsy.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused, Shyam Sundar, had ambushed the girl, and when she resisted, he strangled her, the officer said.
A medical report is awaited to determine whether she was sexually assaulted, the officer said.
"We have arrested the accused, and he has confessed to the crime. The issue of sexual assault will be clear after the medical report," Sagar said.
ADG Lata Manoj visited Ranjitpura, where the incident occurred, and took stock of the investigation.
Meanwhile, former minister Devi Singh Bhati spoke to the protesters at the site of the protest and convinced them to allow a post-mortem.
The sub-division administration has assured the family of financial assistance and a contractual job for a family member.
Bhati said he would speak to the chief minister along with the protesters to fulfill their demands.
Former ministers Devi Singh Bhati and Bhanwar Singh Bhati, Kesklala Board chairman Mahendra Gehlot, sarpanch representative Bhagirath Tetrawal, family members, and villagers agreed to the post-mortem and the suspension of the protest.
"Family members have agreed to the post-mortem after assurances. We will ensure that all demands are met," Devi Singh Bhati, a former BJP minister, said.
"The administration has given written assurances. The protest has been called off," Bhanwar Singh Bhati, a former minister in the Congress government, said.