Patna: Police in Patna have arrested a 39-year-old man in connection with the abduction and murder of a 10-year-old schoolgirl, in a case that has shocked the local community. Investigators revealed on Sunday that the suspect, identified as Ranjit Kumar, allegedly spent more than a month “grooming” the sixth-grade student with small gifts, including stickers and money before the fatal encounter last week.
The victim disappeared on Wednesday morning (April 23) while out delivering milk in her neighbourhood within the Bypass police station jurisdiction. According to Kartikeya Sharma, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Patna, the suspect intercepted the girl as she was returning home and lured her into his room.
Once inside, the door was locked. When the girl began to scream, Kumar allegedly struck her on the head with a lodha—a heavy stone grinder—killing her instantly.
Forensic Evidence and Attempted Disposal
The investigation suggests that Kumar hid the girl’s body under his bed for several hours before attempting to dispose of it in a nearby pond during the early hours of Thursday. His plan was reportedly interrupted by a passing police patrol vehicle approximately 100 metres from his residence.
Panicked by the presence of officers, the suspect abandoned the body, which was wrapped in a blanket, in a narrow lane and fled. Police later discovered the body 500 metres from the victim’s home, still dressed in her school uniform.
Search teams recovered critical evidence from Kumar’s room, including the blood-stained stone grinder, a pillow, and the girl’s milk can. Further items, including the victim’s slippers, blood-soaked clothing, and a bedsheet, were found discarded in a garbage heap 200 metres from where the body was abandoned.
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A Deceptive Defence
Following the discovery of the body, Kumar allegedly attempted to mislead investigators by blaming his own relatives for the crime. Officers noted his suspicious behaviour when they observed him meticulously cleaning his room and disposing of household items in an apparent attempt to destroy forensic traces.
“The suspect was observed cleaning his room and acting in a suspicious manner as police presence in the area increased,” a police spokesperson said. “During interrogation, he attempted to implicate his family members, but the forensic evidence found within his room exposed his involvement.”
Four other individuals were detained for questioning, but Kumar remains the primary accused.
Family in Mourning
The victim’s father, who operates a small milk-selling business, described the harrowing hours following his daughter’s disappearance. “She left to deliver milk to a neighbour’s house just a short distance away, but she never returned,” he told reporters. “We searched everywhere—her school, the village, the homes of our relatives. We had no idea who would want to kill a child.”
The family had reported her missing to the Bypass police station on Wednesday afternoon. The neighbour confirmed to police that the girl had delivered the milk and left his premises shortly before she was allegedly intercepted by Kumar.
Kumar is currently in custody and is expected to face charges of murder, abduction, and attempted sexual assault under the Pocso Act.
