Arrest Made in Rape and Murder Case of 17-Year-Old in Ranchi
Ranchi police have arrested a 23-year-old man in connection with the rape and murder of a 17-year-old girl.
Ranchi, October 20 (Daily Kiran) : A 23-year-old man has been arrested in Ranchi for the alleged rape and murder of a 17-year-old girl. The suspect, identified as Bhagwat Mahto, also known as Bhagwan Das Mahto, hails from Mardu village.
On October 18, the girl’s father reported her missing at the Muri police station. He stated that his daughter left home around 2 PM, promising to return shortly. When she failed to come back by evening, her family began searching for her. They eventually reported her disappearance to the police around 7:30 PM.
Following the report, the police registered a case against an unknown individual on October 19 under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the POCSO Act. Given the seriousness of the situation, Ranchi’s Senior Superintendent of Police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Manish Chandra Lal.
The girl’s body was discovered in a forested area near Chapargadha in Mardu village on the night of October 18 at approximately 9:35 PM. Investigators collected technical evidence from the crime scene. Based on this evidence, police took Bhagwat Mahto into custody for questioning. During interrogation, he reportedly confessed to calling the girl, injuring her younger brother with a stone, and assaulting the girl.
With the suspect’s guidance, police recovered the girl’s mobile phone and other items from the scene. He has since been sent to court for further proceedings. The investigation involved multiple police teams, including those from Muri OP, Silly police station, the technical branch, and a sniffer dog team.
