Jaipur, February 24 – Police have arrested a man in connection with the murder of a 13-year-old girl who was on her way to take her Class 8 board examination in a village in the Bikaner district of Rajasthan.
On February 21, the minor left her home around 12:15 p.m. to go to a nearby examination center. When she did not arrive at school, the administration informed her family at approximately 1:46 p.m.
A search was launched, and her body was later found a short distance from the village.
The issue also caused a stir in the Vidhan Sabha (state assembly) on Monday, where the opposition demanded that such heinous crimes be investigated in the state.
Superintendent of Police Kavendra Singh Sagar stated that after three days of continuous investigation, technical analysis, and sustained interrogation, the police had made a breakthrough in the case. CCTV footage collected during the investigation showed the suspect entering the area around the time of the incident and returning later, which raised suspicion.
During questioning, the accused initially provided misleading information about his whereabouts. However, after detailed verification and interrogation, he allegedly confessed to strangling the minor.
Police suspect that a sexual assault may also have occurred. However, confirmation in this regard will be subject to the post-mortem and medical examination report.
Further investigation is underway, and additional aspects of the case are being examined.
The Bikaner Police reiterate their commitment to conducting a fair, thorough, and time-bound investigation and ensuring strict legal action against the accused as per the law.
Meanwhile, family members and villagers were staging a protest demanding strict action and compensation in the matter, which is why the post-mortem could not be done.
A large number of people are staging a sit-in protest outside the Bajju Hospital's mortuary in the Bikaner district, as no arrests have been made so far.
Residents have demanded immediate action against those responsible and insisted that the post-mortem will only be conducted after the accused are taken into custody.
Leaders from the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and other political parties also joined the sit-in protest. MLA Anshuman Singh Bhati issued a statement saying that the criminals would not be spared and that discussions had been held with senior police and administrative officials, as well as the Home Minister. Former Energy Minister Bhanwar Singh Bhati, Kesh Kala Board Chairman Mahendra Gehlot, Rural President Bishnaram Siyag, Pradhan Bhagirath Teterwal, and Ganpat Seegad also participated in the protest.