A minor girl, whose mutilated and partly decomposed body was found in a forest in Uri on Sunday 10 days after she went missing, had been gangraped by her step brother and his three other accomplices before being murdered in a brutal manner, the police said on Tuesday.
The girl’s step mother was an accomplice in the crime, the police said.
Baramulla senior superintendent of police Imtiyaz Hussain told reporters at a press conference all five accused have been arrested.
The body of the 10-year-old girl had been recovered barely a kilometer from her home.
“From the examination of scene of crime and circumstances thereof it appeared to be the case of murder and accordingly an investigation was conducted,” said SSP Baramulla.
He said during investigation, police found out that girl’s father had two wives—Fahmeeda, from Trinkanjan villge, and Khusboo, a non-local from Jharkhand, mother of the murdered girl.
The SSP said investigation by a Special Investigation Team headed by SDPO Uri interrogated the suspects.
“What emerged is a bone-chilling and horrible account of the murder and rape of the child which shocked everyone,” said the SSP.
He said Fahmeeda felt her husband was more affectionate toward Khushboo and her children.
On the fateful day, Fahmeeda, armed with a knife, took the deceased to the nearby forest and en route signaled her minor son to ready himself for the crime.
The step brother was joined by his friends Kaiser Ahmad, 19, son of Sikander Mir and a juvenile.
One more accused, Naseer Ahmad Khan @ Guddo, 28, son of Sher Zaman Khan of Lari, Trikanjan, also joined them.
Hussain said the girl was gang raped by the accused in presence, and at the instance of, her step mother.
“It was Kaiser who first raped the girl and then all others took turns to rape her. Then Fahmeeda strangulated the girl and the step brother hit her head with an axe, killing her on spot. After that one of the accused went to his home and brought acid in a plastic bottle,” he said.
“Kaiser gouged out her eyes with a sharp knife and then acid was sprinkled on her body. Physical condition and preliminary forensic analysis of dead body substantiate all these facts. Finally, Kaiser and another accused dumped the body in the bushes and covered it with twigs and branches of pine trees,” the SSP said.
He said during questioning Fahmeeda said her husband would spend time with his second wife and the deceased girl was his dearest child.
The officer said the weapons of offence, including the axe and knife, have been recovered. The plastic bottle containing acid has also been recovered.
He said charge sheet would be filed soon.