Delhi horror: Four teenagers held for gang-rape, murder of 16-year-old girl; Here’s how the police cracked the case | Today’s news
In a disturbing incident that came to light in north Delhi, a 19-year-old man was arrested and three minors were detained in connection with the alleged gang-rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl, police said on Thursday, according to a Hindustan Times report.
The teenage girl was found dead on September 13 in a field in Swaroop Nagar, with her body allegedly hidden under leaves. Police said she suffered six to eight stab wounds.
Investigators recovered two knives allegedly linked to the crime, along with clothing the suspects were wearing at the time of the incident.
The girl reportedly dropped out of school and lived alone while she sought employment to help her family financially, police said.
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Police said the teenager knew one of the suspects, a 17-year-old, and went to meet him on the evening of September 10. According to preliminary findings, the suspect allegedly sexually assaulted her before calling his friends after she threatened to report the incident.
Outlining initial findings of the investigation, a police officer was quoted by HT as saying, “All of them were under the influence of alcohol. We have already collected their blood samples. After committing the rape, they took her to a field and stabbed her more than six times on 9/11. They tried to hide the body under leaves and mud. Later, they fled at speed.”
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Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer North District) Shobhit Saksena said investigators were continuing to piece together the incident. The probe will focus on pinpointing the role of each detainee, examining forensic and technical evidence, reconstructing the sequence of events and examining whether anyone else was involved.
“The recovered exhibits have been preserved for forensic examination and necessary legal action will be taken accordingly,” Saksena noted.
The CCTV trail helps the police track down the suspects
Police said that a case of murder, rape and destruction of evidence was registered based on the preliminary investigation and autopsy findings.
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A team led by Additional DCP (Outer North) Lokeshwaran R and ACP Ravinder Ahlawat questioned residents in the area and found that no local had reported seeing the girl on Saturday night or Sunday. Investigators examined footage from more than 50 CCTV cameras and spotted a pacer moving close to the field at the time of the alleged offence.
The registration plate of the vehicle could not be read due to poor visibility at night. However, investigators eventually traced the pace using CCTV mapping, police said.
The driver was subsequently brought in for questioning. During the investigation, he told police that his 17-year-old younger brother used the vehicle frequently.
“The footage also revealed the presence of four young boys inside the tempo. The boys were soon identified but ran away from their house,” the investigator said.
Saksena revealed that investigators tracked the tempo’s movements through several CCTV cameras and combined the footage with information gathered during local inquiries to reconstruct the route the suspects were said to have taken.
“Based on the leads developed, a night search operation was conducted during the intervening night of Tuesday-Wednesday. The tempo was traced in Khadda Colony, Swaroop Nagar. Its driver was identified and questioned. Further investigation led to the arrest of four persons,” Saksena said.
