Aligarh Minor's Murder for Rs 5,000 Sends Shockwaves Across Country, Case to be Probed Under NSA

Lucknow: The brutal murder of a two-year-old girl in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh has sent shockwaves across the country. The heinous crime came to light on June 2 when stray dogs started to drag out the mutilated body of the child from a garbage dump.

The child had gone missing on May 30. She was allegedly murdered by two of her neighbours over repayment of loan worth Rs 5,000.

Two men, identified as Aslam and Zahid, have been arrested in the case so far. Zahid had reportedly taken a loan of Rs 5,000 from the grandfather of the victim. Days before the child went missing, Zahid had allegedly threatened to take revenge after a spat with the family over the non-repayment of loan.

The incident has caused outrage on the social media with thousands demanding stringent action against the culprits.

The police said culprits will be booked under National Security Act (NSA). They ruled out rape and reports of victim’s eyes having been gouged out, maintaining that the body was mutilated and decomposed.

"We are proceeding with it as an NSA case. We will try to get it to a fast-track court. There is no mention of rape or acid in the postmortem report. Five police officials have been suspended," Aligarh Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Akash Kulhary said. The police also said the body was initially hidden at Aslam’s house and later dumped in the garbage.

The case has rattled the country, with leaders such as BSP chief Mayawati and Congress president Rahul Gandhi condemning the heinous crime. Taking to Twitter, Mayawati said UP government must act against the perpetrators and send them behind bars.

Gandhi also demanded immediate action. “The horrific murder of a little girl in Aligarh, UP has shocked and disturbed me. How can any human being treat a child with such brutality? This terrible crime must not go unpunished. The UP police must act swiftly to bring the killers to justice,” he said on Twitter.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh State Commission has also demanded action against the culprits. "We demand that the case of murder of two-year-old girl in Aligarh should be taken up in a fast track court. We will soon meet UP DGP and have also sought time from the Chief Minister to meet him," Vimla Batham, Chairperson, UP State Commission for Women, said.