Sheikh Hamidul Ali Khan, the man accused of the rape and murder of a Class 9 schoolgirl in East Medinipur district, was arrested from Kulgachia in Howrah on 6 June. According to police sources, Hamidul Khan has confessed to the crime, Bengali daily Anand Bazar Patrika and Hindi daily Prabhat Khabar have reported.
Hamidul Khan told police that on 30 May, he had gone to steal mangoes from a tree planted in the house of the victim when she was alone at home. When the girl protested, Khan first beat her up. Then he raped her, before choking her to death to stop her screaming. He disposed of her body in the jungle.
On 2 June, the girl’s body was found and police started tracking all suspects. Khan had gone missing by then, but he was traced to Kulgachia in Howrah from where he was arrested with the aide of Howrah district police.
This case has not made it to English language national media. Ground sources have confirmed that the deceased minor girl is a Hindu.
Below is a video clip by ABP on the incident, which also includes a short-interview with the grief stricken family members –
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