The preliminary post-mortem examination of the 11-year-old girl whose body was recovered from a pond in West Bengal's Baruipur has revealed that she was alive when she was bundled into a jute sack and thrown into the water after being sexually assaulted and sustaining a severe head injury, investigators said on Monday.
"The body of the victim was stashed in a jute sack. According to the preliminary report, the victim was alive when she was bundled in the sack and thrown into the pond where the body was found floating on Sunday morning," a police officer associated with the investigation said.
Autopsy points to sexual assault, head trauma
Investigators described the findings as a crucial breakthrough in the probe. The post-mortem recorded injuries consistent with sexual assault, severe trauma to the genital area and a major head injury. Medical observations suggest the girl was rendered unconscious after suffering a blow to the head before being thrown into the pond.
The presence of water in her lungs and stomach indicates "antemortem drowning", confirming that she was alive when she entered the water. Sources said excessive bleeding from the head injury, coupled with drowning, caused her death.
The findings have prompted police to invoke stringent provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act along with charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to rape, gang rape, murder, destruction of evidence and criminal conspiracy.
Investigators are corroborating forensic evidence with CCTV footage, call detail records and eyewitness accounts.
Three arrested, SIT begins investigation
According to investigators, the girl had left her home on Saturday afternoon to buy a birthday gift for a friend but never returned. Her family subsequently lodged a missing person's complaint.
CCTV footage later captured the victim walking with four individuals on the night of her disappearance. Her body was recovered the next morning from a pond between Dhabdhabi and Suryapur railway stations.
The recovery triggered widespread protests, with locals placing the body on a road in protest. During the unrest, a suspect died after allegedly being beaten by an enraged mob. Police and central forces later restored order.
Three persons, including the prime accused, Anand Sardar, have been arrested, while three others are being questioned. A six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to reconstruct the sequence of events.
Political response and police review
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari reiterated the government's "zero tolerance" approach to the case, assuring that every effort would be made to secure justice for the victim's family. He is scheduled to visit the Baruipur Superintendent of Police's office on Tuesday to review the investigation and meet the victim's father at Bhawani Bhawan.
Authorities have also ordered a review of the local police response after the missing person's complaint was lodged, with officials indicating that strict action would follow if any negligence is established.
The case has triggered widespread outrage across the state. Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led a candlelight protest in Kolkata on Monday, beginning a march from her Kalighat residence. Central forces briefly blocked the procession by erecting barricades, but Banerjee pushed past them and continued the march along Harish Chatterjee Street, demanding justice for the victim.
Also read: Minor girl's death sparks violent protests in West Bengal
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