A 16-year-old girl has died after allegedly being gang-raped and murdered in India. Police have arrested three men in connection with the attack, which took place on Sunday, November 1 in the Firozabad district of Uttar Pradesh.
Details of the attack
The girl was reportedly lured to a field by one of the suspects, whom she had known for several months, before being assaulted. The men are accused of raping the teenager and then strangling her. After being reported missing, she was found unconscious in the field and rushed to hospital, where she was put on ventilator support. She passed away on Friday, November 6, before she could give a statement to police.
A post-mortem examination confirmed sexual assault and reported a broken neck, crushed jaw, and fractured limbs, as reported by The Observer Post.
Arrests and investigation
Local police have confirmed that three local men, aged 20, 21, and 28, have been arrested. Two were arrested on November 1, while the third was detained the following day.
Firozabad Senior Superintendent of Police Aditya Langesh said: "All three accused have been arrested. This case has been taken up on priority under Operation Conviction. Action will also be initiated against the accused under the Gangsters Act, including an investigation into their properties and steps for attachment or confiscation."
Additional Superintendent of Police Jaibind Gupta said he was personally supervising the investigation. He has assured the family of justice and a strict punishment if the accused are convicted.
Family's account
One of the girl's relatives told local media: "She was gang-raped, tortured and left to die. She was put on ventilator support and could not record her statement before her death."
Officers are continuing to investigate the alleged rape and murder and are appealing to the public for relevant information.
