Patna: A 12-year-old girl was found dead with suspected injuries on her neck in a paddy field near her village in Patna district on Saturday, triggering anger among villagers. Family members and residents blocked NH-30A on Sunday morning after the postmortem, demanding justice and strict action against the accused.The girl had left home around 3pm to collect grass after she returned from school. When she did not return for nearly three hours, her family began searching for her. Around 6.30pm, they learnt that her body had been found in a field and informed Dial 112. Police reached the spot and found injuries caused by a sharp weapon.Fumed over the killing, the villagers started protesting on Sunday.Ayush Srivastava, SDPO, reached the spot and spoke to the agitated villagers, assuring them of action in the case. He said the police had received information around 7pm on Saturday that the body of a 12-year-old girl had been found in a field.“Police immediately reached the spot and found the girl near the field. She had suffered an injury on her neck caused by a sickle. A youth has been taken into custody and is being questioned. An FSL team has also been called, and the crime spot has been cordoned. Further action is being taken as part of the investigation,” the SDPO said.Police took custody of the body and sent it for postmortem to a govt hospital. Investigators also examined the spot and questioned people in the surrounding area. The forensic team was tasked with collecting evidence that could help establish the sequence of events.The girl’s family has expressed suspicion of sexual assault, claiming that her clothes were found open. Police have not confirmed the allegation. Investigators said the postmortem findings and other evidence would help establish whether any sexual assault had taken place.The police are also examining the circumstances leading to the girl’s death, the motive behind the killing and whether anyone else was involved.
