Constable held for Kheri girls murder

Ahmed,who has been suspended,was posted as a gunner of the Circle Officer of Nighasan,Inayat Ullah Khan.

The arrest comes a day before the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court is scheduled to hear a petition seeking a CBI probe in the incident.

Singh told the media that Atiq has admitted killing Sonam. Atiq told investigators that he had made several attempts to lure Sonam in the past. He used to talk to her,besides offering money to her. Two days before the incident,Atiq had asked Sonam to bring milk for him, Singh said.

On the day of the incident,Atiq allegedly took Sonam to a room in an isolated place. When he tried to rape her,Sonam resisted and started crying. Atiq first tried to muffle her. When he failed in silencing her,he strangulated her with her dupatta, Singh told reporters.

Later,he hanged Sonams body from a tree to present the incident as a case of suicide,the Cabinet Secretary added.

On the familys claim that she was raped,Singh said both autopsy reports do not corroborate the rape theory.

The first post-mortem conducted June 11 said asphyxia from hanging caused the death. Following protests,the government ordered a second post-mortem,which said she died of strangulation.

The Cabinet Secretary said the police had already arrested another constable,Ramchandra,for concealing evidence. He said Circle Officer Khan had been transferred from Kheri following the arrest of his gunner. The CB-CID team would soon submit chargesheet in the case,he added.