Bhubaneswar: In a startling revelation emerging from investigation of the Nayagarh minor’s murder case, police sources today said the five-year-old girl was sexually assaulted before being killed.
The SIT of Odisha Crime Branch, which is probing the case, today informed the Orissa High Court (HC) that the girl, whose skeletal remains were recovered in the backyard of her house at Jadupur village on July 23, was sexually assaulted before being brutally killed, reliable sources said adding that she was naked before being killed.
The probe status report submitted in the HC by the SIT mentioned that a stain of semen was also found on the victim’s dress during scientific examination. Blood samples of 37 persons were collected during the course of investigation, the sources further said. The prime accused has been identified as a resident of the same village that the deceased belonged to, sources added.
Earlier in the day, the SIT submitted the investigation status report in the court, which will hear the matter next on December 24.
It may be mentioned here that the minor went missing while playing near her house on July 13. Her chopped body parts stacked in a gunny bag was found in the backside of her house later on July 23.
The incident had come to fore after girl’s parents attempted self-immolation in front of the State Legislative Assembly here on November 24. They alleged that Minister and local MLA Arun Sahoo is shielding main accused Babuli Nayak. Ever since, opposition parties have been staging protests statewide targeting the Government and demanding resignation of Minister Sahoo. The issue had rocked the Winter Session of the Assembly last month. Following continuous ruckus in the House, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik ordered a court-monitored SIT probe into the incident.