Day after missing 7-year-old girl found murdered, protesters clash with cops in Kolkata; police vehicle torched

The police car was set on fire near Bandel bridge in Tiljala in the afternoon. Videos from the spot show men running around with sticks and hurling stones. Protesters also blocked the railway track in the area as a result of which railway movement in the Sealdah south section came to a halt. Besides, a fire department vehicle was vandalised, sources added.

On Sunday, the missing seven-year-old girl’s body was found in a jute bag in the flat of her neighbour. The police soon arrested the accused. An officer said, “The girl’s body was found on the second floor from the flat of a 32-year-old man who is originally from Samastipur, Bihar. The body was recovered late in the evening and was packed in a bag. The accused has confessed to the murder. The motive is under investigation.”

The police said the body has been sent for post-mortem to ascertain if the child was abused. Prima facie, officers said the injuries were mainly on her head and her hands were found tied.

It has been alleged that the accused had no child from his marriage and killed the girl on the advice of a tantrik. He is thought to have pulled her into his house, as she went upstairs, before torturing and murdering her.

Local residents claimed the child could have been saved if the police had taken prompt action. A police officer said, “In addition to searching outside, the police conducted a thorough search operation in all 32 flats in the building as soon as they received a complaint from the child’s parents on Sunday.”

Protesting the incident, the girl’s family members and local residents blocked the roads in the area on Monday morning. The agitators also blocked a bus on the Picnic Garden-Howrah route and climbed on top of it. They were also seen holding posters and shouting slogans. The situation became more heated after the police came out with batons to disperse the crowd. The protesters claimed that they will continue the stir until those responsible for the child’s death are punished.