In a shocking case that unfolded in the Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh, a minor Muslim girl was found dead in a sugarcane field. The body was mutilated and her eyes were gouged out. Reportedly, the minor had left home for Madarsa but never returned. The next day, the family learned about this dreadful incident.
The incident occurred in the Singahi police station area, where individuals gathered around the vehicle of Superintendent of Police Ganesh Prasad Saha, causing a disturbance. There was a significant police presence in the village, and forensic experts promptly arrived at the scene.
The family of the minor girl alleges that she was raped. According to the report, she had gone to study at a local madrasa, but when she didn’t return by evening, her family became worried. Despite an extensive search, they could not locate her and filed a missing person report at Tikunia police station around midnight.
Her lifeless body was discovered in a sugarcane field near the hamlet at approximately 1 p.m. Her clothing was torn and dishevelled, her mouth was filled with mud, and she bore horrifying injuries to her face and head. Additionally, both of her eyeballs had been removed. Her bag was found near her.
Soon, the police were alerted, arrived at the scene, and identified the body. The family members also arrived and confirmed her identity. They became embroiled in a heated dispute with the police, and a large crowd of locals gathered upon learning of the incident.
थाना तिकुनिया क्षेत्रान्तर्गत छात्रा का शव मिलने की घटना के संबंध में पुलिस अधीक्षक खीरी की बाइट।@UPPolice pic.twitter.com/h51CHH7cCt
— KHERI POLICE (@kheripolice) October 9, 2023
Upon examining the condition of the deceased, her mother suspected sexual assault followed by murder. She stated, “My daughter went to study, but she never returned. We searched for her the entire night and reported it to the police.” She claimed that the police didn’t take the complaint seriously.
“She would still be alive today if they had searched for the girl at night. Her head had visible wounds. Her eyes were removed. Her mouth was filled with mud. Someone had pressed her face into the ground for a long time,” she added.
On the night of October 9, when Ganesh Prasad Saha arrived at the crime scene, enraged villagers, including the family members of the girl, surrounded his car and demanded appropriate action from the authorities. The senior officer assured them of a thorough investigation and, after considerable effort, took custody of the body for postmortem. Regional leaders also visited the postmortem site late in the evening.
The senior officer stated, “Injury marks were found on the girl’s head and body. Further action will be taken after the autopsy analysis. We have assembled teams to search for the culprits. Squads from nearby police stations have also been dispatched. The perpetrators will be apprehended soon.”
लखीमपुर खीरी के 13 साल की नाबालिग के साथ हैवानियत गन्ने के खेत में मिला छत विछत शव दरिंदो ने बच्ची की दोनों आँख भी फोड़ी मदरसे से घर आते समय गायब हुई थी छात्रा तिकुनिया थाना क्षेत्र का है मामला @Uppolice @lakhimpurpolice @dgpup @myogiadityanath pic.twitter.com/v8AsGbgFEQ
— Raj B. Singh (@razzbsingh) October 10, 2023
Meanwhile, on October 10, the postmortem was conducted by three doctors, revealing that she had been strangled to death, but providing no evidence of sexual assault. The body was returned to the family, who refused to bury it until the perpetrators were apprehended and requested compensation.
Ganesh Prasad Saha has mobilised teams from three police stations under the leadership of Circle Officer Nighasan Rajesh Kumar, as well as the crime branch and surveillance units, to investigate this distressing incident. He emphasised that the entire episode would be fully elucidated soon.
