A day later, missing 4-year-old’s body found at neighbour’s home

A DAY after she was reported missing in West Delhi, the body of a four-year-old girl was found inside the house of a neighbour on Tuesday.

The parents of the victim last saw her on Monday when she was playing outside their house. Following an FIR by her mother, a case under Indian Penal Code section 363 was registered by the police.

The police deputed search teams, checked CCTV camera footage, interviewed neighbours and issued notices.

On Tuesday, a neighbour of the parents received a call, asking for Rs 5 lakh in exchange for the girl. The police then tracked down the phone number and recharge details to the accused and reached his house.

An official said the girl's body was found wrapped inside a jute bag which was hidden under the bed of the house of the accused. The accused, who lives alone, allegedly told the police that he took the child to his home where she “fell on the stairs” and fainted, after which he strangled her.

Said an officer, “The accused said that he got nervous when the child fell on the stairs and fainted... it's still not clear why the accused strangled her as he told us as he is not able to provide a reason for killing the child...”

Police said they suspect the accused could have attempted to sexually assault the victim, adding they were awaiting a post-mortem report to ascertain it.

No previous enmity between the victim's parents and the accused has surfaced so far.

On the ransom call, police said the accused told them that since he did not have the number of the girl's parents, he called up the neighbour “to mislead authorities”.

‘Accused said child fell on stairs, fainted, after which he strangled her’