Kapashera neighbor arrested after shootout for rape and murder of three-year-old girl

The Delhi Police have arrested a neighbor following a shootout for the kidnapping, rape, and murder of a three-year-old girl in Kapashera, southwest Delhi. The arrest took place on Thursday after a brief exchange of fire, with police revealing details of the crime in a statement on Friday. The accused, who worked as a tailor, allegedly lured the minor with chocolates before sexually assaulting and strangling her when she screamed.

According to DCP (Southwest) Amit Goel, the girl's parents reported her missing from their home on July 10, prompting the immediate registration of a kidnapping case. The child's body was discovered early on Wednesday, July 10, near a college in Kapashera. The police subsequently identified the suspect using CCTV footage from the area.

The victim's father has raised allegations of lapses in the initial police response. He stated that the family had informed the police of the circumstances immediately, emphasizing that there was no ransacking in the home and that it was a clear case of kidnapping. The father questioned why the police failed to search the immediate vicinity or the building where they lived, noting that the accused resided in the very same building.

'We had told the police everything,' the father said. 'He lives in the same building, yet they could not do anything. They called us on Wednesday and told us about the death. We are still waiting for a post-mortem report. The police did not even check the area properly.'

In response to these allegations, police authorities maintained that they took immediate action upon receiving the report. Officials stated that they actively searched the area surrounding the house, analyzed local CCTV footage, and detained several neighbors and suspects as part of their initial search efforts.

Following the brief shootout on Thursday, the accused was taken into custody. Investigators disclosed that the suspect had recently procured a weapon from a friend in Balia, his hometown, just a few days prior to the incident. The police statement on Friday noted that the motive behind procuring the firearm is still being ascertained.