MADHYA PRADESH

Rape, murder horror in MP: Victim was baby of homeless family

Child Sexual Abuse Representational image

Even as India is still struggling to come to terms with the Kathua and Unnao rape cases, another ghastly incident of rape and murder, this time involving an infant, occurred in Madhya Pradesh. The eight-month-old daughter of a homeless balloon seller was raped and murdered in Indore on Thursday night as she was sleeping on the street with her family.

The heinous crime was committed by a person known to the family. The accused was caught on CCTV footage of the area. He allegedly raped and murdered the child and later dumped her body in the basement of a heritage building used as a market.

According to Indore police, the accused, identified as Sunil, who belongs to the Bhil tribe, was sleeping besides the family in Rajwada Palace area.

The child was was taken away by Sunil when the family was asleep. He committed the crime in a vacant basement just 50 metres away from the street in front of Rajwada Palace. The child's body was recovered the next day by a shopkeeper who had his shop in the basement.

Later, the police confirmed in the autopsy report that child’s body bore injury marks on her private parts and the head. Acting swiftly, police searched for evidence in the CCTV cameras located in the market area. It identified Sunil Bhil and arrested him immediately. Incidentally, Madhya Pradesh ranks number one in number of rape cases in the country.

DIG of Indore Harinarayanachari Mishra told mediapersons that he has suspended the sub-inspector of the area for negligence of duty in failing to report the incident.