Madhya Pradesh: 4-month-old Baby Raped, Murdered in Indore; CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan Ensures Strictest Punishment

The police recovered the infant's body in the basement area of the heritage Shiv Vilas Palace. Blood stained clothes and the bicycle used in the crime have been seized.

Indore, Apr 21: A four-month-old baby was raped and murdered in Rajwada area of Indore during wee hours on Thursday. The shocking incident comes at a time when the nation is burning with anger against the brutal Kathua rape and murder case in which an eight-year-old girl was subjected to heinous torture and later killed in Jammu and Kashmir.

Acting swiftly on the complaint of the parents of the infant, the Indore police have arrested victim’s uncle in connection with the crime. Initially, an acquaintance of the family was detained but was let off later. Cops say that the accused had an argument with the mother of the baby and committed the crime to teach her a lesson. On the other hand, SI Trilok Singh Varkade of Sarafa police station has been suspended for dereliction of duty.

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“Victim’s family didn’t name the accused as a suspect, who is victim’s uncle in relation. Initial suspects were ruled out by Special Investigation Team (SIT) and victim’s uncle was arrested. Accused had an argument with victim’s mother after which he committed the crime,” DIG Indore was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

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Expressing shock over the incident, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister tweeted, “Indore ki ghatna ne aatma ko jhakjhor diya hai. Itni chhoti bacchi ke saath aisa ghinona kritya. Samaaj ko apne andar jhaankne ki zaroorat hai. Prashashan ne aaropi ko giraftar kiya hai. Hum sunishchit karenge use jald se jald kadi se kadi saza mile (The Indore incident has shaken me to the core. Such a ghastly act on such a small child…our society needs to introspect. The administration has arrested the accused. We will ensure that the strictest of punishments is meted out).”

आज मन बहुत व्यथित है, इंदौर की घटना ने आत्मा को झकझोर दिया है। इतनी छोटी बच्ची के साथ ऐसा घिनौना कृत्य। समाज को अपने अंदर झांकने की ज़रूरत है। प्रशासन ने त्वरित कार्रवाई करते हुए आरोपी को गिरफ़्तार किया है। हम सुनिश्चित करेंगे कि उसे जल्द से जल्द कड़ी से कड़ी सज़ा मिले।

— ShivrajSingh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) April 21, 2018

The baby was picked up by the accused as she was asleep with her family on a porch. The CCTV footage, scanned by the police, shows a man arriving on a bicycle, abducting the girl and moving towards a commercial complex built on a portion of Shiv Vilas Palace around 4.45 AM. After some time, he returns back from the area alone.

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The police recovered the infant’s body in the basement area of the heritage Shiv Vilas Palace. Blood stained clothes and the bicycle used in the crime have been seized.

According to the autopsy report, the infant died due to head injuries. The report also confirmed the savage sexual assault. The family of the infant lodged a complaint at Sarafa Police Station after around 5.30 AM they realised that the baby is missing.

In a similar case, an eight-year-old Bakerwal girl was raped and murdered in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir. She was abducted on January 10 and was found dead in a nearby forest on January 17. During the period, she was kept hidden inside Devisthan – a temple in the area.