Social media post alerts cops on ‘rape-murder’ of 11yo girl

Bareilly: When the parents of an 11-year-old girl found their daughter dead at home in UP's Bareilly on Saturday, they told their neighbours that she succumbed to "stomach infection". The family then started preparations to cremate her. But a surprise post from a local advocate's ‘X' handle - "Help to All" - alerted the police about the "possibility of a murder".
A police team from Bareilly soon reached her house and stopped the last rites. Subsequent autopsy revealed that the minor girl was "raped and murdered". She had injuries on her private parts, the report stated.
Police suspect a 15-year-old neighbour to be behind the crime. He is currently on the run.
Additional SP Anshika Verma, privy to the case, said on Monday that the girl had "multiple injury marks all over her body", which raised alarm and called for a more detailed investigation. Verma said the culprit would be arrested soon.
SHO Harendra Singh told TOI, "The girl's family (who originally belongs to Shahjahanpur) left Bareilly with the victim's body on Saturday evening.... We've asked them to contact us and register an FIR. However, they're yet to approach us."
"We're working on this case from all angles, including honour killing. If the family doesn't file an FIR, we'll take suo motu cognisance and register it ourselves," the SHO said.