Nothing to show Kurla girls raped after death,says police chief

“The DNA reports of the first two cases have,however,confirmed that the same man had committed both crimes. As far as the third case is concerned,the police are yet to receive the forensic report,” he said.

Tracking the criminal was his top priority,he said: a “huge number” of policemen have been deployed in the area and 27 teams are investigating the three cases.

“This is a very difficult case to crack,and an element of luck is also involved. However,we are leaving no stone unturned. There is already a huge number of policemen on the field in the area,and from today we have increased this number by 100 policemen,” Dayal said.

Kamlesh Sharma,arrested on Wednesday by the Vinoba Bhave Nagar police in Kurla for trying to entice a minor girl to accompany him,was remanded in police custody till June 29 by the Kurla Metropolitan Magistrate. Officers said they need his custody to verify if he could be the rapist-killer.

Sharma,an autorickshaw driver,had allegedly offered Rs 20 to a 10-year-old girl who took the money and ran off. He then allegedly turned his attention towards another girl,7,before locals beat him up and handed him over to the police.

“Sharma,41 and bearded,does not match the description of the wanted rapist,supposed to be in his twenties and clean-shaven. However,we are taking no chances and have sought police custody so we can have DNA tests done and keep Sharma available for an identification parade before the girl who had escaped the rapist,” said an officer with the VB Nagar police.

“There are many inconsistencies in what Sharma has said,and therefore further investigations and interrogation are being carried out,” Dayal said.

The girl locals “rescued” from Sharma was back at school on Thursday afternoon. Her father said,“The school is only 20 minutes away but after yesterday we took no chances. My brother accompanied her to school and then back.”