12-year-old Minor Raped & Killed, Cop Suspended for Cremating Body in Bihar

PATNA: A 12-year-old girl was allegedly gang raped and murdered in East Champaran district of Bihar. A video clip where the accused is apparently seen cremating the girl's body as well as an audio clip where Kundwa Chainpur police station SHO Sanjiv Ranjan is reportedly heard directing the accused to cremate her body to get rid of the evidence have now gone viral.

According to reports, the 12-year-old was allegedly gangraped by 4 men on January 21 while she was alone at home.

The victim is reportedly from Barbardiya, Nepal and lived with her father who is a night watchman at the local market. The father was allegedly threatened by the accused if he went to the police.

The SHO told Ramesh Sah, a local leader, to dispose of the body before the family went to the police.

On February 3, the father approached the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) in Motihari and filed FIR.

East Champaran SP Navin Chandra Jha informed that 4 people have been taken into custody and charged with rape and murder. 7 more have been booked for the destruction of evidence, two of who are under arrest.

The SHO has been suspended for the delay in lodging an FIR and also for not getting a medical exam done on the body despite knowing what happened. A Special Investigation Team has been formed as well to look into the case thoroughly.

According to reports, the police have a photograph of the victim's body in which a red mark is visible around neck indicating the minor might had been strangulated to death. The SP informed that forensic experts have been called at body recovery and cremation spot on for collecting necessary samples for analysis.

As per reports, police higher-ups got wind of the incident after the audio clip went viral, which led to the SHO's suspension.

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