Youth held for rape-murder of 14-year-old girl near Kolkata
Kolkata (PTI): Police have arrested an e-rickshaw driver in connection with the alleged rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl in New Town near Kolkata, a senior officer said on Monday.
The 24-year-old accused, identified as Soumitra Roy alias Raj, was arrested on Sunday after police reviewed CCTV camera footage from several areas of New Town tracing the girl’s movements near her residence at Gouranganagar and the nearby Kestapur-Baguihati belt.
According to police, Roy offered the girl a lift after finding her wandering aimlessly around 11 pm on Thursday. He drove her around different parts of the township before allegedly raping and strangling her to death at a deserted spot.
The accused, who recently moved to the same Gouranganagar locality as the class 8 student, had gained her trust. He spotted her walking alone about 2 km from her home and offered to drop her off. After dropping off other passengers at various locations, Roy allegedly took her to a desolate spot and committed the crime, the official said.
Asked if others were involved, the officer said, "We are investigating and looking into all angles."
The class 8 student had reportedly left home following an argument with her mother on Thursday night. Her body with bruises was found near a canal early on Friday morning.
"The accused, who originally hails from Nadia district, has confessed to the crime. We are stitching together the sequence of events," the officer added.
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
