A 9-year-old girl was found dead, her body stuffed in a suitcase, in the Nehru Vihar area of North East Delhi, according to police reports released on Sunday. The grim discovery occurred on Saturday night, prompting authorities to suspect a possible sexual assault based on initial medical examinations.
The child had gone to visit a relative on Saturday evening but did not return home after two hours. Concerned, her family began searching for her. They were informed that she was last seen heading towards a house approximately 200 meters from their own. When her father reached the location, he found the door to a second-floor apartment locked from the outside. After breaking the door down, he discovered his daughter’s lifeless body inside a suitcase.
“I broke the lock and found my daughter in a suitcase. She was unconscious, and I rushed her to the nursing home located right on the street,” the father told IANS. He explained that his daughter had left home to deliver ice to nearby relatives. When she did not return, they contacted the relatives and learned she never arrived. As he began searching for her, someone pointed him toward the flat where she was found. The building’s owner initially denied knowing her whereabouts, stating that the flat was locked and that his brother had the keys, but as the father sought to investigate further, the owner fled.
The police reported that the father took the girl to JPC Hospital, where doctors pronounced her “brought dead.” In a statement, the police detailed how they received a call around 8:41 p.m. on Saturday regarding the sexual assault of a minor girl in Nehru Vihar. Upon arrival, the police team found that the girl had already been taken to the hospital by her father.
Initial medical observations noted visible injuries on the child’s face, further supporting the allegation of sexual assault. Crime scene and forensic teams are currently examining the area, and CCTV footage from the neighborhood is being reviewed to identify any potential suspects. A case has been filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the POCSO Act at Dayalpur police station. Multiple investigation teams have been deployed to gather evidence and apprehend the assailants.
