A deeply disturbing crime has shaken Ghaziabad’s Raj Nagar Extension area where the body of a seven-year-old girl was discovered in the basement of an under-construction mall in the early hours of Saturday. A postmortem examination has confirmed the worst fears of the grieving family, revealing that the child was raped before being murdered. The case has sparked widespread outrage and panic among local residents.
The Disappearance and Grim Discovery
The young victim lived with her parents, who work as labourers, in a makeshift shelter on the premises of the same construction site. According to her family, the girl went missing around 7 PM on Friday evening. Her parents and local residents searched frantically until late into the night but found no trace of her.
Around 1 AM on Saturday, her body was located in the basement of the under-construction building. The family described the condition of the body as extremely distressing. The girl had suffered a severe head injury and multiple fractures. Police suspect she may have been thrown from the third floor of the structure, though the exact sequence of events is still being established through forensic examination.
Brother’s Testimony Leads to Arrests
A crucial breakthrough came from the victim’s younger brother. The girl’s maternal uncle told investigators that the young boy had informed the family about two men working at the construction site who lured his sister away by offering her a soft drink. Acting on this critical lead, police detained two suspects for questioning.
During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to the horrifying crime. One has been identified as Shahabuddin, while the other is a minor. According to police, the duo admitted to enticing the child with promises of cold drinks and chips. They took her inside the under-construction mall where they allegedly gang-raped her. In a calculated attempt to destroy evidence and escape detection, they then threw her off the roof.
Police Response and Investigation
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rural) Surendra Nath Tiwari addressed the media on the developments. “We received information around 1 AM on July 11 that the body of a young girl was lying inside the under-construction mall. A police team from Nandgram Police Station immediately reached the spot. Senior officers also visited the crime scene to supervise the investigation. An FSL team examined the site and collected forensic evidence,” he said.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Nandgram) Priyashree Pal confirmed that forensic evidence has been gathered and an FIR has been registered based on the family’s complaint. The case invokes sections related to rape, murder, kidnapping, and the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. Both accused have been arrested and further legal proceedings are underway.
