PUNE: A two-and-a-half-year-old girl, who went missing from near her home in Pune, was found dead, police said today.
The police feared that she may have been abducted and strangulated.
The toddler went missing from near her house close to a farm off Sinhgad Road late last night following which her parents, who are daily wage labourers, approached the police.
She was found dead early this morning about 500 metres from her house, a police official said.
"Prima facie, it seems that the girl was strangulated as there are marks on her neck. Some residents living in the vicinity of the farm spotted the body this morning," an official at the Sinhgad Road police station said.
"A case of kidnapping was registered immediately. This morning, the girl was found dead near the farm behind a housing society off Sinhgad Road," he said.
Asked if the child was sexually assaulted, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Swargate division, Shivaji Pawar said it was yet to be ascertained as the medical report was awaited.
"We have registered a case on charges of kidnapping and murder. An investigation into the case is underway," Pawar said.