In a deeply disturbing incident that has shocked the national capital region, a seven-year-old girl was allegedly raped and brutally murdered inside an under-construction mall in Ghaziabad’s Raj Nagar Extension area. The accused, a construction worker who had spent nearly two-and-a-half months at the site, systematically gained the trust of the minor and her family by playing with the children and offering them chocolates, chips, toffees, and snacks.
Police investigations reveal a premeditated and horrifying sequence of events that highlights the vulnerability of children living in makeshift labour settlements at construction sites. The victim’s parents, who themselves work as labourers at the same site, had been searching for their daughter for several hours after she went missing on Friday evening.
According to police, the accused Shahabuddin had become familiar with the victim, her brothers, and the family over an extended period. He often played with the children and used small gifts to build familiarity. On the fateful day, CCTV footage reportedly captured the man taking the girl away on the pretext of buying her snacks and a soft drink.
The accused Shahabuddin took the seven-year-old to the third floor of the under-construction building, where he sexually assaulted and raped her. He then repeatedly struck her on the head with an iron rod, leading to fatal injuries. In a bid to conceal the crime, the body was dropped through a shaft from the third floor into the basement.
Bloodstains were found on the walls and floor of the third floor, confirming the location of the assault and murder. The victim’s body, bearing severe head injuries and multiple fractures, was discovered by relatives around 1:05 AM.
A post-mortem examination confirmed that the minor was raped and died due to severe head trauma. Police recovered critical evidence, including the victim’s slippers and trousers, along with the bloodstained iron rod believed to have been used in the murder.
Two accused, one adult and one minor, have been arrested so far. The arrests were made based on CCTV footage and other forensic evidence. The lack of electricity in parts of the building reportedly helped the perpetrator dispose of the body without immediate detection.
The victim’s maternal uncle stated that the family had been frantically looking for the girl since Friday evening. The parents, living in a temporary shelter on the construction premises, were devastated by the incident.
This gruesome case once again brings into focus the serious risks faced by children of migrant labourers at unregulated construction sites across urban India. Lack of proper security, absence of creche facilities, and inadequate monitoring often leave young children exposed to predators who may exploit the trust built over time.
Senior police officials have assured a thorough investigation and have appealed for community vigilance. The case has been registered under relevant sections of the POCSO Act and IPC provisions for rape and murder.
As the investigation continues, this incident has triggered widespread outrage and renewed calls for stricter safety protocols at construction sites, mandatory background checks for workers, and better protection mechanisms for vulnerable minors in labour colonies.
