Hamirpur , A three-year-old girl was allegedly raped and strangled to death after being lured away by a neighbour here, with angry villagers refusing to allow the body to be taken away and pelting stones at police vehicles, officials said on Monday.
Following the discovery, the family turned in the accused to the police. The toddler was playing outside her home when the 30-year-old neighbour allegedly lured her into a nearby field, where he raped her before strangling her to death with her own pajama trousers, according to police.
Circle Officer Rajkumar Pandey said while the police were taking the accused for questioning, he attempted to escape by firing at officers using a country-made pistol that he had concealed on his person. When police attempted to take away the girl’s body, angry villagers allegedly created a commotion and pelted stones at police vehicles, officials said. The incident occurred in Muskara police station area on Sunday afternoon.
Later, when the family began searching for the girl, the accused allegedly pretended to assist them in the search. The girl’s body was discovered in the field around 8.00 pm.
In the ensuing retaliatory fire, the accused was shot in the leg. He is currently undergoing treatment at the district hospital.
