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Father of five behind 8-year-old girl’s rape and murder in Chandigarh: Police
A native of Ayodhya, the accused was nabbed from his hideout in Bihar after a seven-day manhunt, say Chandigarh Police; the child’s body was found with the throat slit and multiple stab wounds
Wanted for the heinous rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Hallomajra since January 19, the accused, Heera Lal, was arrested from his hideout in Bihar on Friday, police said.
A painter by profession, the accused has two wives and is the father of five children, the eldest being a 13-year-old daughter, they said, adding that he was cheating on both his wives, as none of them knew about each other.
Investigators said the accused was an alcoholic and often got involved in fights, leading to his frequent evictions from rented accommodations. He had been involved in incidents of petty thefts as well, they added.
He had shifted to Chandigarh from his native, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, around four months ago and was currently living in the victim’s neighbourhood in Hallomajra.
The child’s body, with the throat slit and multiple stab wounds, was discovered near a dumping site in Ram Darbar on January 22, three days after she went missing on January 19. The autopsy had confirmed rape. The body was found in a semi-naked state and hidden under a pile of garbage, around 600 metres from her house in Hallomajra.
Police had zeroed in on Heera Lal as the prime suspect after he was spotted carrying a handbag in a CCTV footage from the area. His rented room had been locked since January 19, the same day the child went missing.
Inspector Ram Rattan, SHO, Sector 31 police station, said during investigation, the child’s body was recovered from a garbage dump near the vegetable market ground in Phase 2, Ram Darbar, on the intervening night between January 21 and 22. He is facing charges for murder and rape under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Chase spanned three states
As police launched an intensive door-to-door search in the area after the body’s discovery, the child’s slippers were found in a neighbouring house, with the occupant, Heera Lal, missing. This pointed the needle of suspicion towards him.
A chase spanning three states, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, ensued and finally, on the seventh day, police managed to trace him to Nawada, Arrah, in Bihar. He was brought back to Chandigarh on Saturday and produced before a court that sent him to five-day police custody.
Police to push for fast-track trial
Superintendent of police (City) Mridul said police were gathering evidence and will try to submit the chargesheet in the case within a month. “We will push for a fast-track trial in the case, as the manner in which the crime was committed is shocking,” he said.
