GWALIOR: A 12-year-old Class 5 student, missing for five days under suspicious circumstances from Gwalior, has been found dead near the Sindh river in Mau area of Bhind district.
The body was recovered late Friday in a severely mutilated condition, with officials suspecting damage caused by aquatic animals.
The girl was reported missing from the Siroli area of Gwalior on May 25. Police said the stepfather who lodged the missing complaint came under suspicion from the beginning due to inconsistencies in his statements.
According to the stepfather, the child allegedly died by suicide at home on May 24. He claimed he later buried the body near the river in Bhind district out of fear of social stigma and police action.
Police have detained both parents and are questioning them. A postmortem examination will be conducted by a medical board due to the condition of the body, along with forensic analysis.
Investigators have not ruled out murder. The exact cause of death will be confirmed after the postmortem report. The investigation is ongoing.
