Angul Police in Odisha apprehended a 20-year-old youth, Ashish Naik, suspected of killing a 12-year-old girl from his village after a reported sexual assault. The arrest followed the discovery of the victim’s body within 24 hours of the incident. Authorities initiated the case based on a missing report filed by the minor’s family at the NTPC Police Station.
The family reported that the girl had gone missing after visiting a field near their village. Subsequently, a search operation was launched by the police, involving multiple teams scouring the surrounding areas. The investigation led to the recovery of the deceased minor’s body, prompting a shift in the case to include charges of rape and murder under relevant sections of the law.
Law enforcement officials, supported by forensic experts and K9 units, conducted a thorough examination of the crime scene. Evidence collection procedures are currently underway in accordance with forensic protocols. The police have intensified efforts to apprehend the accused, conducting raids at various locations. The arrested suspect, Naik, who resided near the victim, was taken into custody within a day of the body’s discovery.
The case has been designated as a Special Report (SR) case by Angul police, with a DSP-rank officer assigned to oversee a comprehensive and time-bound investigation. In a separate incident, Jagatsinghpur police arrested two individuals, including the victim’s boyfriend, in connection with the rape and murder of a woman in the Paradeep area of the district.
