Shimla rape-murder cracked, 6 arrested

SHIMLA: Nearly a week after a naked body of a schoolgirl was found in Kotkhai area of Shimla, triggering outrage, police on Thursday said it had arrested six accused for rape and murder of the minor girl.

“We have technical, circumstantial and scientific evidence against all six accused,” director general of police (DGP) Somesh Goyal told reporters here.

The accused, aged between 19 and 42, included two Nepalese and two from Uttarakhand. Most were farm labourers and had settled in Kotkhai area. The 16-year-old girl was offered lift in a vehicle by the accused on July 4 when she was returning home from school. On the way, the accused raped and murdered her at a nearby forest.

SHIMLA: The minor, who was raped and murdered at Kotkhai, was a dreamer who wanted to make it big in life. She was also adjudged as the most regular student in her school a year back.

“The girl was earlier studying in a girl’s senior secondary school at Balson. She shifted to a school in Mahasu later,” said DGP Somesh Goyal on Thursday.

He added, “The victim was rewarded as the most regular student in the school. But she shifted to another school as her entire class failed to clear the board examination.”

Speaking about the fateful day, Shimla superintendent of police (SP) DW Negi, who is also the part of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) said, “The rapist buried victim’s face in the ground. As she failed to breathe, she died.”

“This case cannot be compared to Nirbhaya, as there was a dying declaration of the victim in that case. This, however, is totally a blind case,” said inspector general of police Zahur Zaidi.

She was a sincere student and was adjudged as the most regular student in the school. SOMESH GOYAL, DGP