Bulandshahr Child Murder Case: Main Accused Killed in Police Encounter, Accomplice on the Run
Mumbai: A key accused in the abduction, sexual assault and murder of a Class 4 student in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr district was killed in a police encounter early Sunday, officials said.
The accused, identified as Monu, had been named as the prime suspect in the horrific crime that shocked the region. Police had announced a reward of ₹50,000 for information leading to his arrest a day before the encounter.
According to police, the minor girl had gone missing from her residence in the Kakod area on July 31. Her family and local residents had been searching for her since she disappeared. On Saturday evening, an unclothed body was discovered in bushes near the Vair railway station area. Locals immediately alerted authorities, following which police reached the spot and initiated an investigation.
Officials said the victim had multiple injuries on various parts of her body, including her face, shoulders, abdomen, chest, hands and legs. The body was sent for post-mortem examination, while forensic teams collected evidence from the scene.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dinesh Kumar Singh said a joint operation involving the SWAT team and local police was underway in the Gulawathi area when officers spotted two men riding a motorcycle without a registration number plate during a checking drive in the early hours of Sunday.
When police attempted to stop the motorcycle, the suspects allegedly opened fire on the team. Police retaliated, resulting in Monu sustaining serious injuries. He was rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
The second suspect managed to flee the scene under the cover of darkness. Multiple police teams have launched a search operation to locate and arrest him.
During the exchange of fire, Special Operations Group (SOG) sub-inspector Sandeep Kumar and constable Narendra Kumar suffered bullet injuries and are receiving treatment. Two other officers, inspectors Shailendra Kumar and Dharmendra Sharma, escaped unharmed after bullets struck their bulletproof jackets.
Police recovered a pistol, two magazines, live cartridges and the motorcycle used by the accused from the encounter site.
Investigators said CCTV footage from the area played a crucial role in identifying the accused. The footage allegedly showed the victim being taken away, helping police establish leads and intensify efforts to track down the suspects.
Following the recovery of the girl’s body, SSP Dinesh Kumar Singh and local MLA Lakshmi Raj Singh visited the grieving family and assured them that strict action would be taken against those responsible.
The incident has triggered widespread outrage, with residents demanding swift justice and stronger measures to ensure the safety of children.
With Hindustan Times Inputs
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