NEW DELHI: A nine-year-old girl was found stuffed inside a suitcase in northeast Delhi's Nehru Vihar area. She had visible injuries on her face and was allegedly sexually assaulted, a police officer privy to the probe said on June 8.
She was declared 'brought dead' by the doctors at the Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital in Shastri Park. Multiple teams have been deployed to gather evidence and arrest the accused at the earliest.
According to police, on June 7 at 8:41 pm, a call regarding the sexual assault of a minor girl in Nehru Vihar was received at Dayalpur police station, following which a police team rushed to the spot.
"Upon reaching the location at Gali No. 2, Nehru Vihar, the Dayalpur police team found that the victim was in an unconscious state and had been taken to JPC Hospital by her father, where she was declared 'brought dead', said a senior police officer.
The officer further said that, prima facie, the attending doctors at the hospital observed visible injuries on her face and alleged sexual assault.
The Crime and FSL teams are currently inspecting the crime spot.
"A case under sections 103(1), 66, 13(2) of the BNS and 6 POCSO Act has been registered," said the officer.
Meanwhile, as the information about the death of the minor girl spread, a large crowd of residents, along with the victims' family members, gathered on the streets to demand justice. The demonstration led to the blockade of the nearby road.
The crowd accused the police of failing in their duty and insisted that the person responsible for the crime must be arrested without any delay.
The girl’s father, overcome with grief, said the family only learnt about the full details late at night. "Police arrived at our home around 1 a.m. to collect evidence," he said.
"The main suspect remains at large. I will not find peace until he is brought to justice," he added.
Fearing possible outbreaks of violence, shop owners quickly shut down the outlets as protesters marched through the market lanes.
The protest caused major disruption to traffic in the Dayalpur area. The vehicles were seen stranded in long queues, with many drivers forced to seek alternative routes.