Minor's rape-murder: Accused arrested from Ratlam in MP

A 25-year-old man accused of raping and killing a minor in Dwarkapuri area of Madhya Pradesh's Indore district on October 25 was Sunday arrested, a senior police official said.

Honey Athwal, who has previously been arrested as a minor for rape and murder, had abducted the 4-year-old girl when she was returning after attending tuition classes Thursday evening.

The victim was allegedly raped and strangulated and her body was discovered in a drain under Krishnapura bridge here Saturday, police had said.

Superintendent of Police (West Zone) Siddharth Bahuguna Sunday told PTI that Athwal was arrested from Jaora town of Ratlam district, about 175 kilometres from here.

Jaora City Superintendent of Police (CSP) Ashutosh Badi said that Athwal was hiding in Hussain Tekri, a religious shrine, there.

"The accused was hiding at Hussain Tekri which was crowded due to arrival of devotees on the occasion of Chehallum," Badi said.

Badi said a police team in mufti arrested Athwal from Jaora's bus-stand as he was about to leave for Ratlam.

He has been charged with abduction, rape and murder, police said.

Officials said that Athwal was also arrested earlier in connection with the rape and murder of a seven-year old in Mandsaur but received a mild sentence as he was a minor at the time of commission of offence.