Bodies of missing girl, toddler brother found in Hazaribag

Hazaribag: Bodies of a 12-year-old girl, who was missing along with her younger brother since May 27, were recovered from the banks of a river and a well, respectively, in Hazaribag district on Sunday night and on Monday.Police on Monday said the girl’s body had deep injury marks and her face was disfigured, leading investigators to suspect an attempt to conceal her identity. “The exact cause of death and possibility of sexual assault will be known after we get the postmortem report,” a police officer said.The girl’s family, hailing from Uttar Pradesh, has been living in a village in Hazaribag for the past four years. The parents earn their living by selling balloons and toys in markets, a trade in which the girl and her two-and-a-half-year-old brother also assisted.Her father said he lodged a missing complaint on May 27 after both children could not be traced. The family alleged that despite repeatedly approaching two police stations, the case was not handled with urgency. After the girl’s body was found, relatives opposed the postmortem examination.Police said a shepherd spotted the body and alerted locals. Identification was initially difficult due to the condition of the body, but was later confirmed through the missing person’s report. A case has been registered in this connection.Hazaribag SP Aman Kumar said that a special investigation team (SIT) led by ASP (operations) Amit Kumar and DSP (headquarters) Gyan Ranjan has been formed. Forensic experts, dog squad and technical teams are scanning CCTV footage for clues.Recovery of the bodies sparked protests, with residents blocking a roundabout and demanding swift arrests. The victim’s father alleged that a man had lured the children with the promise of a mobile phone, claiming the police were informed earlier but failed to act.“Every angle is being probed,” said the ASP.