Udham Singh Nagar: Police in Uttarakhand arrested a 20-year-old man within 12 hours of the murder of a teenage girl in Amiyawala village of Jaspur area, officials said on Wednesday.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Manikant Mishra confirmed the arrest of Rajiv Kumar (20), who was taken into custody after a swift investigation. Items connected with the crime were also recovered based on his disclosure.
Incident in village
The victim, a Class 8 student, had gone to a nearby field on Tuesday evening. When she did not return home for a long time, her family began searching and later found her lying injured. She was rushed to the Jaspur Community Health Centre, where doctors declared her dead.
Villagers’ protest
The incident sparked outrage in the community, with villagers blocking National Highway 74 demanding immediate action. Police reinforcements were deployed to manage the situation and the highway was reopened after officials assured residents that the case would be handled strictly.
Case registered
A case has been registered under Sections 103 (1) (murder) and 64 (1) (rape) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant provisions of the POCSO Act.
SSP Mishra said that 10 police teams were formed to crack the case. A sniffer dog was also used during the investigation, which helped track the suspect.
Accused arrested
During questioning, Rajiv Kumar admitted to his involvement in the crime. Police said he initially attempted to mislead investigators, but sustained interrogation led to a breakthrough.
Community shock
The incident has caused deep shock in the local community. Residents have demanded strict punishment for the accused and stronger preventive measures to ensure the safety of minors.
Authorities have assured that the case will be fast-tracked and justice will be delivered without delay.