A 17-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped and stabbed to death in Delhi, with her severely decomposed body later found in an open field in the Swaroop Nagar area, police said.
The case came to light on the morning of September 13, when local residents alerted the Delhi Police after noticing stray dogs attacking a body in a field near Kushak Road.
When police reached the spot, they found a heavily decomposed and mutilated body. The condition of the body was such that investigators were initially unable to determine even the victim's gender. Police said one hand was found separated from the body and parts of the body had been attacked by stray dogs.
Investigators later identified the victim as a 17-year-old girl. A medical examination confirmed rape, while police found multiple stab wounds on her body. Police suspect that the crime took place around September 11, about two days before the body was discovered.
Victim knew the accused, police say
According to police, the girl knew the four accused, including three minors. She had travelled with them in a tempo on the day of the alleged crime.
Police said the four suspects are aged between 16 and 19. The adult accused has been identified as Shivam alias Sudama alias Chuchu, a resident of Khadda Colony. Three other accused are juveniles aged 16 and 17, police said.
The girl had not been reported missing by her family. Police said her family told investigators that she would sometimes leave home and return after a few days.
How police traced the accused
With no apparent eyewitnesses and the identities of the perpetrators initially unknown, police examined footage from more than 50 CCTV cameras in the area and along adjoining routes.
Investigators spotted a tempo moving near the suspected crime scene around the relevant time. Although its registration number was not clearly visible because of darkness, police tracked its movement through footage from multiple locations.
A night-long search operation was conducted during the intervening night of September 15 and 16. Police eventually traced the tempo, identified its driver and questioned him. The investigation subsequently led to the apprehension of four people allegedly linked to the crime.
Police said two knives allegedly used in the crime, clothes allegedly worn by the accused and the tempo were recovered.
All four accused are in police custody, and a case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The investigation is continuing.
