Lucknow April 17 (IANS) In a case with harrowing echoes of the crime in Jammu and Kashmir s Kathua an 8-year-old was raped and then murdered in Etah district of Uttar Pradesh police said on Tuesday.
The victim had gone to attend a wedding with her family where she went missing only for her body to be found early next morning in a field.
A drunk youth found lying beside her has been arrested on suspicion of raping her an official said.
The family of the victim has accused the 18-year-old Sonu of luring the girl to a deserted place when the wedding rituals were underway and then raping her. He has also been accused of strangulating her later for fear of being identified later.
Police officials said the case was being probed and that the accused has been charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act.
--IANS
md/vd
