By Sumesh Rajan | May 22, 2025
Basti, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA: A five-year-old girl was brutally raped and murdered in a village under Lalganj police station limits in Basti district, Uttar Pradesh, on Sunday, May 18. The child’s body was discovered later that night, bearing signs of extreme violence. The crime has sparked shock and outrage across the region.
Timeline of Disappearance
The girl, a student of Class 1, had left her home around 2 pm to search for her grandmother, who was away in the village. A local clothes hawker had come to the Harijan colony in the afternoon. The child asked her mother to buy her new clothes. Her mother agreed, and when payment was needed, the girl remembered giving ₹200 to her grandmother earlier. Despite her mother’s warning to stay home, she left to retrieve the money from her grandmother and did not return.
At 8 pm, the family alerted local police through emergency services. A search operation was launched immediately under the supervision of Station House Officer (SHO) Shashank Shekhar Rai, with support from Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhinandan and additional officers.
Body Found in Bushes
At approximately midnight, police discovered the girl's body in dense shrubbery just 200 metres from her home. She was found soaked in blood, and initial observation revealed signs of sexual assault and physical torture.
The post-mortem report, received on Monday, May 19, evening, confirmed that the child had been raped and murdered. Her arms, legs, and chest bones were fractured. Her neck, face, and abdomen bore severe trauma marks. According to police sources, the perpetrator(s) attempted to smother and strangle the child, later slitting her throat to ensure death. Punches to her abdomen and impact to her head caused internal and external injuries.
No Identified Suspects Yet
The family has not named any suspects, and no prior enmity has been reported. However, police believe the assailant may be someone local or familiar with the area, as no witnesses reported seeing the child being abducted during daylight hours.
SP Abhinandan told reporters: “The case involves extreme cruelty. The girl’s disappearance was reported Sunday evening, and her body was recovered during the night. We have registered a case, and five dedicated police teams are working to identify and arrest the accused. Forensic teams are collecting evidence, and multiple people are being questioned.”
Police are tracking mobile locations and interrogating residents in the vicinity. As of Tuesday, no arrests had been made, though several individuals were brought in for questioning.
Family in Grief
The child’s family is in deep distress. Her father suffers from end-stage kidney failure and is undergoing treatment at home. Her mother supports the family, which includes a seven-year-old son and a six-month-old baby girl. In the hospital, only the child’s face was shown to the grieving mother due to the severity of injuries elsewhere on her body.
Relatives and neighbours gathered at the family's home on Monday. Many were in tears and remained in silence, struggling to come to terms with the brutality of the crime.
Village in Shock, Police Presence Intensified
The crime has shaken the entire village. While villagers are discussing the incident among themselves, few are willing to speak openly. Police presence has increased significantly. A forensic unit has collected material evidence, and the entire locality is under tight surveillance.
Senior officers, including ASP O.P. Singh, COs Satyendra Bhushan Tiwari, Swarnima Singh, Pradeep Kumar, and other field staff, were present at the site. SWAT and local law enforcement teams continue round-the-clock operations.
Police have vowed to bring the perpetrator(s) to justice. A case under relevant sections of the IPC and POCSO Act has been registered. Investigators are also reviewing any possible links to known offenders or recent criminal activity in the area.
Child rights groups and women’s safety organisations have condemned the crime and demanded swift action and trial under fast-track provisions.
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