Amid massive public outrage over the murder of a two-and-a-half-year-old girl in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh Police has constituted an SIT to investigate the case. Police have also said that they will slap the stringent National Security Act (NSA) on the accused for the murder that has triggered massive protests on social media.
SSP Akash Kulhari constituted the SIT to be led by SP (Crime) and SP (Dehat) to probe the case. Samples have been sent to the Agra forensic lab while the case is likely to be taken up in a fast track court.
Five policemen have also been suspended.
The mutilated body of the minor girl was found in a garbage dump in Aligarh with an initial probe indicating that the killing was fallout of a monetary dispute.
Police have identified two persons in connection with the crime.
SSP Kulhari said the girl went missing from Tappal township on May 31 and on June 2, police found her mutilated body in a garbage dump near her house.
Police have arrested two persons - Zahid and Aslam - on the basis of the complaint of the victim's father.
"Post-mortem examination has not found any sign of sexual assault. The report confirmed death due to strangulation," the police officer said.
Kulhari said that in view of the gravity of the crime, proceedings have begun to charge the duo under the stringent National Security Act. He said a process has also started to follow this case through a fast track court.
The victim's father has demanded that other family members of the accused be arrested as the crime could not have been carried out without their knowledge.
He threatened that he would start a fast unto death from tomorrow if no further arrests were made.
Security measures at Tappal township, 50 kilometeres from the district headquarters, have been tightened as a precautionary step after tension mounted.
Gloss