A six-year-old girl was allegedly raped, set on fire and murdered in Punjab's Hoshiarpur district on Thursday, 22 October.
According to news agency PTI, the accused – Gurpreet Singh and his grandfather Surjit Singh – have been arrested on charges of murder and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Her half-burnt body was found in their Jalalpur village, police said, reported PTI.
“The incident of rape and murder of 6-yr-old in Hoshiarpur is extremely sad and shocking. Though police arrested the accused, have directed DGP to ensure proper investigationa and that challan is presented speedily. I call for fast trial and exemplary punishment to guilty by court.”Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh
The victim's father is a migrant laborer who was earning his living in the same village.
According to the police, Gurpreet took the 6-year-old to their house and allegedly raped her, while his grandfather 'helped' to reportedly kill and burn the minor's body.
Taking a dig at Congress leaders Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, “A 6-year-old child of a Dalit migrant labourer from Bihar is raped, killed and her body half-burnt in Hoshiarpur and it doesn't shake the conscience of the brother and sister who rush to every other place which can help them politically.”
In the Hathras gang rape and murder case, which had taken place in UP, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi were detained and manhandled by the UP police, as they were on their way to meet the Dalit victim’s family. They were also accused by the BJP of making political gains over the case.
Responding to Sitharaman’s allegations, CM Amarinder Singh said, “There is no need for us to visit Hoshiarpur rape case victim's family as the police investigation is on. Police are in action. The accused has also been arrested. But, in case of Hathras incident, no police investigation was being done.”
(With inputs fro PTI)
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