The main accused in the alleged rape and murder of a six-year-old girl in Greater Noida was shot dead in an exchange of fire with police while being taken to recover evidence linked to the crime, officials said. The encounter took place on Saturday, hours after the child's body was recovered near a pond in Haldoni village under the Ecotech-3 police station area. Police had detained the suspect after CCTV footage and other evidence allegedly linked him to the girl's disappearance. The child had gone missing on Friday afternoon, following which her family approached police. Five teams were constituted to search for her and investigate the disappearance.
Body recovered near village pond
During the search, police recovered the girl's body from bushes near a pond on Saturday morning. Her family alleged that she had been sexually assaulted before being murdered. Police registered a case under provisions relating to rape and murder in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita as well as relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. Investigators suspect the child was abducted and sexually assaulted at the house of another suspect. Police are also examining the possible involvement of others, including an extended family member of the girl. The victim's body was sent for post-mortem examination, which police said would be conducted by a panel of doctors and videographed.
CCTV footage led police to suspect
Police said footage from CCTV cameras and information gathered during the investigation helped them identify the main suspect. A purported video that subsequently surfaced on social media appeared to show the child being followed by a man. Later footage reportedly showed the man returning carrying a sack. The authenticity of the footage has not been independently established.
The suspect was taken into custody on Saturday afternoon and questioned about the crime. During interrogation, police said, he disclosed that evidence connected to the murder had been concealed in bushes near the D-Park police outpost.
Accused allegedly fires at police
A police team took the accused to the location to recover the concealed items and reconstruct the sequence of events. According to police, the accused pushed personnel accompanying him and retrieved a pistol hidden at the spot before opening fire. A police constable was injured in the firing. Police personnel retaliated, hitting the accused. Both the suspect and the injured policeman were rushed to hospital. Doctors declared the accused dead during treatment, while the constable was admitted for medical care. Police said a firearm and ammunition were recovered following the exchange.
Role of second suspect under probe
Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the child's abduction and killing and whether more than one person was involved. Police are particularly scrutinising the role of a second suspect and the location where the sexual assault is alleged to have occurred. The killing triggered anger in Haldoni, where residents gathered following the recovery of the child's body and demanded stringent action against everyone involved in the crime.