Rape-murder accused on the run kills 7-year-old girl in Thane district
Thane (PTI): A powerloom worker, who had been on the run in a rape and murder case involving a six-year-old girl, allegedly sexually assaulted and killed another child in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said on Saturday.
The police have arrested the 33-year-old man in connection with the incident that occurred in Bhiwandi town on October 1, an official said.
The accused allegedly raped and strangled his seven-year-old neighbour and stuffed her body in a gunny sack before fleeing the scene on Wednesday, he said.
He was caught by the police while he was preparing to flee to Madhubani in Bihar on the same night, the official said.
According to the police, the victim had stepped out of her house to relieve herself but never returned. Her parents carried out a frantic search and found the small bucket that the girl had carried with her outside the accused's house, which was locked.
They broke down the door and found the child's body stuffed in a gunny sack, police said.
The official said the accused had similarly raped and murdered a six-year-old girl in 2023 and was arrested and lodged in Thane Central Jail.
He had fled police custody when he was brought to court for a hearing in August, and had returned to stay in the victim's neighbourhood a few days ago, he said.
The local police have registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against the accused, the official said.
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Deve Gowda hints at NDA tie-up for local body, Panchayat polls
Bengaluru: JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda has indicated that the party is open to an understanding with the NDA in the upcoming local body, taluk and zilla panchayat elections.
Speaking to reporters at J.P. Bhavan on Wednesday, he said the JD(S) is a regional party, while the BJP is a national party. “We have to wait and see what decision they take regarding a pre-poll alliance. As far as local body elections are concerned, we will discuss the matter together before taking a decision,” he said.
Responding to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s allegation that the JD(S) does not give positions to anyone outside the family, Deve Gowda said the charge has no substance. “My memory is still strong. I will respond to everything at the appropriate time,” he remarked.
He also said that a JD(S) convention will be held in Vijayapura on February 27 and that he has been invited to participate in the event.
