Ghaziabad Police Encounter: Accused in Brutal Child Rape-Murder Shot in Both Legs
In a dramatic early morning encounter on Wednesday, Ghaziabad police shot a 24-year-old man accused of raping and murdering a four-year-old girl. The accused, identified as Gaurav, sustained gunshot wounds to both legs after allegedly firing at police officers with an illegal weapon during a crime scene recovery operation.
Horrific Crime Details Emerge
According to police reports, the gruesome incident occurred on Monday night in the Nandgram area. Gaurav, who lived as a neighbor to the victim, lured the four-year-old girl to an isolated location under the pretext of buying her chocolate. Police investigation revealed that he first took her to a local market where they ate samosa and jalebi together before purchasing lollipops.
"During questioning, the accused revealed that he was afraid the girl would identify him if she remained alive," said Nandgram Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ziauddin Ahmad.
The autopsy report painted a horrifying picture of the violence inflicted upon the child, documenting:
- Eleven distinct injury marks on her body
- Three severe blows to the head with a brick
- Signs of strangulation around her neck
- Multiple bite marks on her body
- Significant injuries to her genitalia
Police Encounter and Recovery Operation
During the early hours of Wednesday, police took Gaurav to the crime scene for evidence recovery. According to official statements, the accused suddenly produced a previously concealed illegal weapon and fired at the police team.
"Police retaliated in self-defense, in which the accused was shot in both legs," ACP Ahmad confirmed. "The illegal weapon and cartridges were recovered from the accused. He was immediately sent to the district hospital in Ghaziabad for treatment and is currently in stable condition."
During the investigation, police recovered several crucial pieces of evidence, including:
- The blood-stained handkerchief Gaurav used to wipe his hands after the murder, which he had hidden in bushes
- The illegal firearm used in the encounter
- Multiple cartridges from the weapon
- Lollipops found in the accused's pocket
Family's Heartbreaking Account
The victim's father, who works as a daily wage laborer and lives with his three children, recounted the tragic sequence of events. "When I returned from work around 7pm, my daughter was missing," he said. "Some children told me the neighbor had taken her to get chocolate. I immediately went to his house, but he was not there."
The desperate search involved relatives and neighbors who eventually found Gaurav in an isolated farm around 8:45pm. When questioned about the girl's whereabouts, the accused cryptically told the father to "go ahead and you will find her."
A short distance away, the family discovered the grievously injured child bleeding profusely from head wounds. Police were immediately summoned, but Gaurav had already fled the scene. He was later apprehended near his residence.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including:
- Section 103 (Murder)
- Section 238 (Causing disappearance of evidence or giving false information to screen offenders)
Authorities confirmed that additional charges would be added, including provisions related to rape, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and relevant sections of the SC/ST Act. The investigation continues as police work to build a comprehensive case against the accused.
