Murder or wild animal attack; body of 5-year-old puzzles cops
What's the story
The mutilated remains of a five-year-old girl were found near a police station in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur.
Reportedly, the girl went missing on February 25 evening. The next day, her severed leg was found in a field, leading police to suspect a wild animal attack.
However, the family insisted on treating it as a murder case, prompting authorities to investigate further.
Investigation progress
Drone surveillance aids in recovery of additional remains
Drone surveillance proved helpful in recovering more body parts from nearby fields on February 27. These included another severed leg and the upper torso from chest to head.
Forensic teams collected samples and the remains were sent for post-mortem examination.
The post-mortem report revealed the girl had been strangled to death, contradicting initial suspicions of a wild animal attack.
Arrests made
Three suspects arrested in connection with the case
"Multiple suspects are being interrogated and three have been arrested," said Additional Superintendent of Police, Sitapur, Praveen Ranjan.
Surveillance teams have been deployed to assist in the ongoing investigation.
The police are now treating this as a murder case after the victim's family insisted on investigating it as such and the revelation of the post-mortem report.
Community support
Local leaders visit grieving family, assure strict action
Local Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Gyan Tiwari and State Women Commission member Priyanka Maurya visited the grieving family.
They assured them of prompt and strict action against those responsible for the crime.
The assurance from local leaders comes as the police continue their investigation into this tragic incident that has shocked the community in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh.