In a case of rape and murder, a 5-year-old girl was killed in the Vajpayee Nagar Multiplex area under the Shahjahanabad police station in Bhopal. The police have been making continuous revelations in this horrifying case. The main accused, 32-year-old Atul Nihaale, his mother Basanti Bai, and his elder sister Chanchal have been arrested and are being interrogated. Atul confessed to raping the girl and then strangling her to death to prevent her from informing her family about the incident.
Atul’s Confession
During the police interrogation, Atul revealed that on Tuesday afternoon, his mother and sister had gone to work. He occasionally works as a laborer but often skips work due to his addiction to drugs. On that day, he was at home because his wife had left for her parents’ house a month ago. Due to his behavior, his wife had been living separately for the past two years.
On Tuesday, the municipal corporation had conducted fogging to kill mosquitoes in the colony. As a result, all the residents had closed their doors to avoid the smoke. Atul saw the girl returning home and, under the pretext of being friends with his niece, called her into his room. There, he raped her and then strangled her to death to prevent her from informing anyone.
Hiding the Body
Atul confessed that he kept the girl’s body wrapped in a sheet in his room for a day. When his mother and sister returned from work, he informed them about the incident. They helped him hide the body to avoid suspicion. The family even joined the search for the missing girl to divert attention.
By Wednesday afternoon, the situation had become serious as the body started to decompose and emit a foul smell. Atul, along with his mother and sister, decided to hide the body in a small water tank in the kitchen to avoid detection during the police search.
Failed Attempt to Dispose of the Body
The accused admitted that they planned to dispose of the body late at night when the area was deserted, but they never got the chance. The police conducted multiple searches in the colony, but they did not check the water tank.
On Wednesday night, realizing that they could not escape the police, Atul tried to flee Bhopal but was caught. His mother and sister went to the victim’s grandmother’s house early Thursday morning to avoid suspicion. The police had searched Atul’s house twice but had not checked the water tank.
Discovery of the Body
On Thursday morning, after noticing a foul smell, Basanti Bai claimed that a rat had died in the house and spread phenyl to mask the odor. However, the neighbors noticed the smell and informed the victim’s grandmother, leading to the discovery of the body by the police.
Criminal Background of the Family
The police investigation revealed that Atul’s family originally hails from Khargone. They have a history of criminal activities, with Atul having several cases registered against him, including a conviction for harassment. His wife has also filed complaints of domestic violence against him. Atul is addicted to drugs and frequently fights with his wife, who has been living separately for the past two years.
Past Incidents
An elderly woman from Vajpayee Nagar Multiplex accused Basanti Bai of being involved in human trafficking. She claimed that 25 years ago, Basanti Bai had kidnapped her 7-8-year-old son for his silver waistband. The woman also alleged that Basanti Bai and her husband were involved in trafficking young girls and women from the neighborhood.
Similar Cases in the Past
This is not the first case of a child’s murder and hidden body in Bhopal. In Kamla Nagar, a girl’s body was found in a nearby drain after she was murdered. Similarly, in Kolar’s Kajalikhera area, a child’s body was hidden in a wheat storage tank after being murdered.
Police Claims
The Madhya Pradesh police claim that there has been a decrease in crimes against women over the past seven months. According to the State Crime Records Bureau, there has been a reduction in crimes such as murder, attempted murder, and robbery. The police attribute this decrease to effective measures taken to ensure women’s safety.
This case highlights the urgent need for stricter laws and enforcement to protect children and women from such heinous crimes.
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