10-Year-Old Girl Allegedly Raped, Killed By Drunk Man; Body Dumped Near Canal

In yet another rape case in India, a 10-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted and killed by a 35-year-old man.

The accused, who had been living as a tenant near the victim's home in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh for the last six months, was arrested Thursday by the local police.

On Monday, the accused was reportedly at the girl's house to celebrate an Indian festival called Raksha Bandhan, which is observed to celebrate the bonds between brothers and sisters. The accused got drunk after the celebration and lured the minor girl away from her family, following which he raped and killed her.

The police found the victim's body near a canal in the Hathras district, Times Now reported, citing Press Trust of India. A police complaint was filed by the victim's family, following which an investigation was launched into the matter. The charges placed against the accused remain unclear.

Authorities said the victim's body has been sent for an autopsy, and they are awaiting a detailed report to confirm rape.

Meanwhile, the police also said the accused – who has not been identified – has a criminal history with at least 11 reports filed against him in Hathras and other parts of the state. The cases include dacoity, theft, liquor and drug peddling, among many others, according to IANS news, cited by News 18.

The state of Uttar Pradesh had registered the most cases of crimes against women in the country from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2019, according to the National Crime Records Bureau’s (NCRB) "Crime in India 2019" report. The state also ranked third in terms of rape-murder cases. The total rape cases registered in the state was 59,853.

Rape cases in the country have seen a spike in recent years, with the accused being known to the victims in 93.1 percent of cases reported in 2017, the NCRB report claimed.

Earlier this month, a minor boy allegedly raped a 3-month-old baby who lived in his neighborhood. The infant was hospitalized with critical injuries. The incident took place in a village in Uttar Pradesh. After committing the crime, the 17-year-old suspect fled the scene.