While the country was protesting against the gruesome rape-murder of West Bengal doctor at RG Hospital, another rape occured in country this time it is Bihar. The incident occurred in Muzaffarpur, about 100 kilometers from the state capital Patna. The Mahadalit girl was allegedly kidnapped from her house on the night of August 11 and her body was recovered the next morning.
The incident sparked protests in different districts of the state with demonstrators demanding severe punishment for culprits. Reportedly the police have arrested five accused including Sanjay Yadav, the suspect of murdering the girl. The other arrested includes Rankaj Ram, Mithilesh Kumar, Channu Pawan and Munna Ram.
As reported by The Wire, there are two more suspect and the police is “looking for them”
According to the evidence collected, it appears that it was not a pre planned murder. However, the girl’s family claims that she was kidnapped from her house by five suspects, meanwhile, the police has suspected that the girl on purpose went out of the house to meet Yadav (the main accused) at a deserted land that is outside the village on August 11.
As reported by The Wire, one of her relatives said, ““They were five [people] and had covered their faces. They threatened her with dire consequences and kidnapped her. We searched the village but we could not find her. In the morning, villagers found her body in chaur and informed us.”
According to the details collected, Yadav is widower and has three children, and as per the statement of the girl’s family, he wanted to marry her and has proposed to her many times.
The Investigation
Right after the body recovered, the girl’s family lodged an FIR in a local police station against Yadav. The police conducted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and started the probe. According to the details collected by the Police, the girl was not kidnapped but had gone to meet Sanjay at her own will. Muzaffarpur SSP Rakesh Kumar said that according to CDR (Call Detail Record), Yadav had talked to the girl before the meeting and asked her to meet him at the deserted place.
Meanwhile, locals claim that Sanjaya and the victim knew each other and used to talk over phone.
The SSP said and The Wire reported, “Five local people knew about their relationship for two to three months and didn’t approve of it. They were waiting to catch them red-handed. As soon as the girl arrived to meet Yadav, within two to three minutes, all five individuals confronted them. A heated argument ensued, followed by a scuffle.”
How was the Girl Murdered?
The investigation revealed that Pankaj Ram, one of the five accused, attacked the girl with a rod and hit her in the head and then Yadav, the other accused, tied her limbs and strangled her. Following this, he dragged her body 20 meters away and buried her.After the incident, Yadav fled the village in a car (Bolero) with the help of one Mithilesh. He was hiding in Araria.
However, Police have seized the object that digged the earth to bury the body, the car and mobile phones of the accused
