Chargesheet filed in Odisha girl's rape-murder

Police have filed a chargesheet in the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl here in the Odisha capital, an official said Tuesday.

The 60-page chargesheet was filed Monday in the sessions court against 22-year-old Kiran Sahu, the lone accused.

According to rules, a chargesheet can be filed in such cases within 120 days.

Police have gathered strong evidence against the offender, which are enough for his conviction, Deputy Commissioner of Police Nitinjit Singh told IANS.

The footage of a closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) that showed the accused leading the victim away has also been submitted, he said.

Police said the accused asked the victim's family about an address in the city's Salia Sahi slum. The family sent the Class 4 student with the accused to lead him to the house.

Instead of locating the house, the accused allegedly took the girl to a nearby secluded area and raped her before strangling her to death, police said.

The incident occurred Aug 20, but came to light only after the victim's family and other residents searched for the girl when she did not return. The residents spotted her body in a nearby area and informed police.

The CCTV camera at the gate of a private college showed the accused leading the victim away. Locals nabbed the offender and handed him over to police. The victim's family and the accused are daily-wage earners.