New Delhi: A girl living at a private hostel in Bihar’s Jehanabad was sexually assaulted and murdered earlier this month. The Jehanabad Police have now caught the accused, a canteen guard who was reportedly involved in the crime. The police claimed that the man has confessed to his involvement in the crime.
‘Wanted to defame institution’: Canteen guard’s confession
According to a report in the Indian Express, the canteen guard told police officials during interrogation that he wanted to defame the hostel. He therefore raped the minor girl and murdered her, they said.
The Superintendent of Police Aparajit Lohan, said that the murder came to light on April 6. This was after locals blocked National Highway 22 to protest against the murder. Local police led by the Sub Divisional Police Officer reached the spot and pacified them. They promised strict action against those found guilty, and requested the locals to clear the highway.
The SP said that after that the body of the girl was sent for post mortem to Patna Medical College and Hospital. Following this a formal complaint was lodged in the death, by the girl’s father. The FIR was filed under Sections 65(2), 64(F), 70(2), and 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. These sections deal with rape and murder. The complaint was also filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, said the police officials.
The FIR named the hostel operator as well as other individuals as accused in the case. The hostel operator had already been arrested and is currently in judicial custody.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed by the Jehanabad Police to probe the case. During investigations, suspicion fell on the canteen guard, 46-year-old Mukesh Kumar. Initially he denied his involvement.
However later as a fresh forensic examination was conducted and technical surveillance was done, the needle of suspicion still fell on Kumar. He was also caught on the hostel CCTV cameras moving suspiciously and behaving abnormally. He was also seen moving inside the hostel premises between 2 floors.
Apart from this, the forensic team also found traces of blood on the accused’s pillow and in the sink pipeline of the hostel. Upon questioning, the man confessed to the murder and rape.
During questioning, Kumar said that he wanted to defame the institution. He had a tiff with the hostel owner and had earlier threatened him saying that “He would do something that would lead to the hostel’s permanent closure”, said officials.
Accused has history of erratic behaviour, was teased by hostel kids
Apart from his problems with the hostel owner, the man also reportedly had a history of erratic behavior. His wife had left him a few years back and he had no children, said the police. The hostel kids reportedly teased him by calling him “impotent”. This further enraged the man and he decided to take revenge from the young kids, said officials.
The police are now planning to increase surveillance and check private hostels running across the district, following this heinous crime.