The Bihar Police on Friday arrested an individual in connection with the alleged rape of two girls from the Mahadalit community in Patna, one of whom was found dead.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rajiv Mishra confirmed the arrest, saying that the accused had confessed to the crime during interrogation. Details about the arrested individual have not been disclosed.
Two Mahadalit minor girls were allegedly raped after being kidnapped in the Hinduni Badhar area of Patna on Monday. One victim succumbed to severe injuries sustained during the ordeal while the other girl is receiving treatment at AIIMS in Patna.
The families said both the girls had gone together to collect cow dung cakes on Monday but did not return home. A relative of one of the victims said locals found the body of one of the minors on Tuesday, following which they informed the police.
Meanwhile, CPI(ML) Liberation MLA Mehboob Alam along with other party workers marched to the Patna district magistrate’s office today, expressing dissatisfaction with the police response in the gang-rape case. He criticised the suspension of a sub-inspector for negligence and called for accountability at higher levels.
CPI(ML) Liberation leader Gopal Ravidas also blamed police for inaction as he alleged that officials had turned away the victims’ kin when they approached the police the day the girls went missing.
BJP’s National General Secretary of the OBC Morcha, Nikhil Anand, condemned the police’s handling of the case, accusing the SSP of Patna of failing in his duties.