A horrifying case of the rape and murder of a 9-year-old girl has shaken South 24 Parganas’ Joynagar area. The young girl, a fourth-grade student, was allegedly abducted, raped, and killed while returning home from a coaching center on Friday evening. Local police have arrested a suspect, a young man from the same neighborhood, after reviewing CCTV footage. The incident has sparked massive protests, with angry residents demanding strict punishment for the perpetrator.
Timeline of the Incident
According to the family, the victim had gone to her regular tuition classes in the Mahishmarihat area on Friday evening. After class, she visited her father’s shop, located in a nearby market, before heading home alone. When she did not return home, her family grew concerned and began searching for her. Hours later, her lifeless body was found in a pond near their house, about a kilometer away.
The victim’s father, heartbroken by the loss, said, “My daughter came to my shop after tuition and told me she was heading home. But she never made it back. Later, we found her body in a pond. The person who did this lives in our neighborhood. We demand the strictest punishment—he deserves the death penalty.”
Police Investigation and Arrest
The family immediately lodged a complaint at the Joynagar Police Station, but they allege that the police initially failed to take the matter seriously. The family believes that had the police acted promptly, their daughter might have been saved. The police, however, launched an investigation later that night and identified a suspect based on CCTV footage, which showed the accused taking the girl on a bicycle. He was arrested that same night and is currently being interrogated.
The girl’s body has been sent for post-mortem, and the investigation is ongoing.
Public Outrage and Protests
As news of the incident spread, local residents were enraged. On Saturday morning, hundreds of angry protestors gathered outside the Joynagar Police Station, demanding justice for the child. They accused the police of negligence and called for swift action against the accused. The protest soon turned violent as demonstrators stormed the police station, vandalizing property and obstructing roads.
Despite the situation escalating, local authorities are urging calm and have assured the community that the investigation will be thorough, and justice will be served.
Calls for Justice
The tragic death of the young girl has left the entire community in shock. The victim’s family, along with the protestors, are demanding the death penalty for the accused. The situation remains tense as protests continue, with locals emphasizing that swift justice is the only way to bring peace to the grieving family.