One Sivaji Naik was on Thursday arrested for his alleged involvement in the rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl at Mathatentulia village under Gondia police limits.
The girl was allegedly raped and murdered on Tuesday night when her parents were away at Cuttack to attend a wedding. After committing the crime, the accused set the victim on fire and fled.
The matter came to light on Wednesday after the burnt body was found in an abandoned room, 100 metres from the girl’s house. Over 95 per cent of the body was burnt.
According to sources, the incident was a fallout of a failed love affair between the victim and Naik. Family members of the victim had filed a case against Naik for troubling her a few years back. He was imprisoned and had come out on bail two years back.
Naik wanted to marry the girl, but the latter’s family members were opposed to it and the matter had even gone to the elders of the village. “The dispute had then been settled in a village meeting,” said SP Manorajan Mohanty, adding that in order to destroy the evidence, the accused set the girl on fire.