The 30-year-old accused lured the minor to an isolated spot where he allegedly raped and killed her on Saturda... Read More

BHIWANDI: Hours after the body of a seven-year-old girl was found with her head smashed on Sunday morning, Bhoiwada police in Bhiwandi have arrested a 30-year-old porter working at a power loom unit for allegedly raping and killing her.

The accused is said to have lured the girl with ice-cream and taken her to an isolated place where he raped her and then stoned her to death.

The accused was identified as Bharat Kumar Kori (30). He shared a room with other labourers at Karivali village in Bhiwandi.

Police said the incident took place on Saturday night when the victim was playing near her house. The incident came to light on Sunday morning when some passersby noticed her body and informed the police and her relatives. DCP Rajkumar Shinde formed eight teams who nabbed Kori from Varldevi area.

The victim’s father runs a small hotel in Bhiwandi and used to deliver food to workers in the power loom industry. As the accused was his regular customer, he knew the girl. He took advantage of the familiarity to lure her.

DCP Shinde said, “Our team cracked the cracked case within 10 hours of the incident and arrested the accused. He is a resident of Gonda district in Uttar Pradesh. We will check if he has a past criminal record.”

Meanwhile, the victim’s family has demanded death sentence for the accused. Talking to reporters, her mother said, “I want the accused, who killed my daughter brutally, to be given a death sentence.”

The police have booked the accused for rape and murder and under sections of the Pocso Act.

(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)

