The Mayawati government claimed Sunday it had solved the alleged rape-murder of a 14-year-old girl in Lakhimpur district.
UP cabinet secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh told reporters that constable Atiq Ahmad, gunner of the Nighasan circle officer, had been arrested. “Atiq Ahmad confessed he used to give Sonam money to lure her. On June 10, he took her aside, but she started screaming. He clasped her mouth but she could not be silenced, so he strangulated the girl with her dupatta. He then went to offer namaaz, and later propped her body against a tree to make it seem like suicide,” Mr Singh said. He added Atiq was known to have indulged in similar activities earlier while posted at the district magistrate’s bungalow.
He said another policeman, Ram Chandra, had earlier been arrested for removing evidence, and was jailed.
Sonam was found dead June 10 in the Nighasan police station premises.