Three arrested for alleged murder of 16-year-old girl; Victim's family claims ongoing disputes led to tragedy

Ranchi: Three persons, including a woman, were arrested on Saturday night in connection with alleged torture and murder of a 16-year-old girl in Manatu here, police said on Sunday.

Khushboo Kumari, a resident of Umedanda, who was working as a domestic help at the house of child development project supervisor, Sushma Kumari, for the past four years, was found dead on Saturday. Sushma arrived at the girl’s home with her body, claiming that she had slipped in the bathroom and died.

Locals, however, staged a protest at Kanke police station, alleging that the girl was murdered claiming that there were rope marks on her body.

ASP Sakshi Jamuar on Sunday said that police arrested Sushma, her brother Santosh Kumar Das and her driver Pradeep Barla on Saturday night for the murder. Jamuar said that scissors, lathi, rope and adhesive tape used for the murder have been seized.

She said, “The accused is claiming that the girl had started misbehaving. The exact reason for the murder, however, would be revealed after thorough investigation. All accused were sent to judicial custody on Sunday.”

Police said that Sushma took Khushboo to her home by promising to take care of her. However, a dispute arose between the girl’s family and Sushma over financial and other issues, they added.

“Sushma had kept Khushboo in captivity and treated her inhumanely,” the ASP said, adding that the girl was murdered on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. Afterwards, the accused visited several hospitals with the body to mislead the police.
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