In one of the most gruesome crimes to shock Uttar Pradesh in recent times, a seven-year-old girl hailing from Bihar was allegedly kidnapped, gang-raped, and murdered in cold blood inside an under-construction mall in the Raj Nagar Extension area under Nandgram police station limits. The accused, identified as 22-year-old Shahabuddin from Araria district in Bihar and a 16-year-old minor, have been arrested by the police following a swift investigation based on CCTV footage and family complaints.
The victim’s parents, who are migrant labourers working at the same construction site, lived in a makeshift shelter nearby. According to family accounts, the girl went missing on the evening of July 10, 2026, while her mother was busy cooking. The child was reportedly lured away by the accused with promises of chips, Kurkure, samosa, burger, and cold drinks. Eyewitnesses, including the girl’s brothers, saw the suspects offering her snacks around 7 PM, and CCTV cameras captured them with the victim at approximately 7:40 PM.
The girl’s body was recovered around 1 AM on July 11 from the basement (sub-basement area) of the under-construction mall, also referred to as Misgun Mall or Earth Mall in some reports. Post-mortem examinations confirmed sexual assault and revealed severe injuries: the body was found blood-soaked with a fractured skull, broken limbs, and other fractures consistent with being thrown from a height (reportedly the third floor through a shaft) after being hit on the head with an iron rod. Her clothes were dishevelled, with only a top remaining.
Family members alleged that the accused, who were acquainted with them, took the girl to the third floor of the building where the assault occurred. To conceal the crime, they murdered her and dumped the body in the basement. The parents described the scene as horrific, with visible signs of brutal violence. The entire locality has been plunged into shock and anger, with residents demanding swift justice and stricter security at construction sites employing migrant workers.
Police Action and Investigation Upon receiving information via Dial 112, Nandgram police, along with a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team and dog squad, rushed to the spot. ACP Nandgram Priyashree Pal (or Priyashi Pal) confirmed that an FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for kidnapping, gang-rape, and murder, along with provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Forensic evidence, including samples from the site, has been collected.
The police acted promptly on CCTV leads and witness statements, arresting the two main accused. Shahabuddin, the adult accused, and the minor (who reportedly arrived at the site a few days earlier and planned the crime) are in custody. Interrogation revealed that the minor instigated the act, and the crime was committed to hide their identities after the assault. Further investigation is underway to ascertain if more individuals were involved, with reports indicating initial detention of 4-5 suspects.
The case has once again highlighted vulnerabilities faced by children of migrant labourers at construction sites. Local authorities and police have assured the family of justice, while calls for better lighting, surveillance, and background checks at such sites grow louder. The family, still in deep trauma, has appealed for stringent punishment for the perpetrators.
