Etah: Campaign for girls’ safety by cops

ETAH: Protesters staged a candle light march on Wednesday demanding swift punishment to a 19-year-old man arrested for allegedly raping and killing a seven-year-old girl even as police drew up plans to launch a campaign for safety of minors.

AGRA: Shock and anger remained palpable among the residents on Wednesday, a day after a 7-yearold girl was raped and murdered by a 19-year-old man during a wedding function in Etah.

While the residents took out a candle march demanding justice for the girl and strict action against the accused, the police said they would launch an awareness campaign in city schools to ensure safety of girls.

Though shops remained open in the area, streets wore a deserted look for most part of the day. Senior superintendent of police, Etah, Akhilesh Chaurasia said, “We had undertaken an awareness campaign in March and will start it again next week. Girls will be informed about the measures they can take to stay safe and secure.”

“The accused was sent to 14-day judicial custody on Tuesday,” he said. Meanwhile, Mohit Kumar, who runs a shop near the victim girl’s house, is yet to come to terms with the reality.

“After returning from the girl’s burial on Tuesday, I was in a state of shock and could not have dinner. Her innocent face kept haunting me all through the night. This should not have happened to her,” he said.

“My children are asking me as to what happened to the girl. I don’t know what I should tell them,” he said.

A police official privy to investigations said the accused had confessed to his crime and was heavily drunk when he committed the offence. “He did not run away after committing the crime but chose to hide the girl’s body under bricks and sticks,” he said.

He said the girl’s post-mortem report revealed asphyxia and strangulation as the reasons for her death.