A 10-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered after being kidnapped while sleeping on a footpath with her family in Delhi, India. Police have arrested a 25-year-old taxi driver, identified as Bablu, who has confessed to the crimes.
Kidnapping and Attack
The incident occurred in the Mehrauli neighbourhood of South Delhi at around 5am local time on Monday, June 22. The girl was living rough with her parents and sold balloons on the street while her parents worked as labourers. The family had recently become homeless after previously renting a home in the area.
According to police, the suspect kidnapped the victim from the footpath and drove her towards Gurugram, a 20km journey taking approximately 50 minutes. He then raped and murdered the girl before dumping her body on the side of the road.
Police Investigation and Arrest
After the parents woke up and realised their daughter was missing, they alerted police. Officers launched an immediate manhunt, scanning hours of CCTV footage from the area. Within six hours, they tracked down and arrested the taxi driver.
Police confirmed the suspect has admitted to the alleged kidnapping, rape, and murder. He remains in police custody and will appear in court at a later date. The investigation is ongoing.
Background on Mehrauli
Mehrauli is one of Delhi's oldest and most historic neighbourhoods, with a population of around 911,000. It is home to the 200-acre Mehrauli Archaeological Park. The case has shocked the local community and drawn attention to the vulnerability of homeless families in the area.
