Kidnapped siblings killed after rape

Arrested youths confess to assaulting and murdering another toddler

In an incident reminiscent of the 1978 Ranga Billa kidnapping case, a five-year-old boy and his three-year-old sister, who were found dead in New Usmanpur in north-east Delhi last week, were killed after being subjected to sexual assault by two youth, police said on Thursday.

Mohammad Sadab, 20, of Jai Prakash Mohalla in Brahampuri, and Mohammad Mia, 19, of Sri Ram Colony in Khajuri Khas were arrested on Monday.

“They have confessed to killing another three-year-old girl, Anju, after kidnapping and raping her,” said V V Chaudhary, additional commissioner of police (north-east).
A probe was launched after Arman and Usma of Khajoori Khas were found lying in a pool of blood with injury marks in New Usmanpur jungle on September 26.

They went missing after they left their relative’s house in the neighbourhood at 3:30 pm on September 25. Their parents Akram, a contractor, and Naseema Begum, got worried when the kids did not return home, and started a search in the locality themselves.

“They later lodged a missing person complaint with Khajoori Khas police station,” Chaudhary said. The bodies of the two minors were found in New Usmanpur on September 26 afternoon, which were identified by Akram and Naseema.

In the widely-reported 1978 case, two children, Geeta and Sanjay Chopra, were kidnapped by two youth for ransom in Delhi. But they later raped Geeta and murdered the children before fleeing the city. Both culprits were hanged for the crime.

Failed attempts

In the latest case, during preliminary probe, a seven-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy informed police that they too were about to be kidnapped on the same night by a young man, but he failed.

“It was a blind case of rape with the only clue being that the rapist was under the influence of drugs. We made a sketch of the accused with the help of the boy,” Chaudhary added.

Four teams were formed and 52 men were apprehended. Then three were shortlisted on the basis of the sketch. Finally, Sadab was apprehended on Monday by relying on local intelligence from a liquor shop near Khajuri Chowk. He was interrogated at length and police told him to explain what he was doing the entire day. “His movements were also cross-verified. During cross-checking of his schedule, Sadab’s statement was found to be entirely false,” Chaudhary said.

After sustained interrogation, he broke down and confessed that he and his friend Mia had committed the crime on September 25. Teams were dispatched and Mia was also apprehended on Monday.

They also told police that on September 26, they again planned to kidnap and rape children. Sadab initially kidnapped a seven-year-old girl, but she started shouting and crying, hearing which a boy came running and Sadab left the girl and fled.

After some time Shadab tried to kidnap a 10-year-old boy, but he resisted and managed to escape. Then he made his third attempt and accidentally caught the same boy, but he managed to escape again.

“As he was not being able to kidnap and control an elder boy, Sadab searched for a younger girl and at 10 pm, he kidnapped three-year-old Anju and took her to Mia. They later took turns to rape her, killed and dumped her body,” Chaudhary added.