New Town rape-murder: Cops track CCTV footage showing girl between 2 bikers
Times of India | 9 February 2025
Kolkata: The 13-year-old girl, whose body was recovered on Friday morning from the bushes beside the NBCC Vibgyor Towers at CE Block in New Town's Action Area-I, was raped before being murdered, the preliminary post-mortem report indicated. Bidhannagar Police commissioner Shri Mukesh on Saturday confirmed that the death was due to manual strangulation and that she bore marks of sexual assault.
According to multiple sources, including those at Gouranganagar where the victim resided, the key to this investigation now is to trace a bike in which she is seen riding with two men on Thursday night, the ride probably originating from the Jatragachi area of New Town.Delhi Election Results 2025Saffron surge in Delhi as BJP ends AAP's reign in landslide victoryDelhi results: Complete list of winners from AAP, BJP and CongressTop 10 winners and losers in Delhi electionsThe victim is seen sitting between two men in this footage. The police confirmed that they had already collected dozens of CCTV footage connected to the case and were analysing them but refused to be "part of any speculation". Among the footage collected are private CCTV footage from Gauranaganagar to Jagatpur and Jatragachi, including ones from a local sweets shop.
Sources claimed the parents of the victim told cops that the girl might have tried to go towards Baguiati where one of her uncles resides. "The footage shows she got confused with the direction and then started asking people. We believe she would not have travelled 6 km if she did not develop trust with whoever promised to give her a lift. While the Jagatragachi footage is a big lead, there are at least two more footage of two other bikes that are under consideration. The accused might have taken two routes — one via Biswa Bangla Gate and the other through Balaka-New Bridge. Besides footage, physical data collection of both routes is being done. We are also analysing all calls in this 6km area by checking the call dumps. The fact that labourers were engaged for casting of roof slab even last Monday at the victim's residence could mean that she might have met one of them on the road and might have requested him to drop her at a convenient spot," claimed a police source.
Senior officers of Bidhannagar commissionerate, though, remained tight-lipped. "It is too early to comment on the investigation now," said a top officer even as commissioner Shri Mukesh spent hours at the New Town police station on Saturday taking stock of the development. The post-mortem report reveals injuries to the genital area and scratch marks were found on the minor's chest. Investigators said the full picture will not be clear until the complete report is available.
A visit to the area by TOI revealed that the 1.7-acre plot spot, located beside a canal, is owned by WBIDFC. The pathway beside it — connecting Loha Bridge with NBCC Vibgyor Campus Main Gate and about 700 metres in distance — sees a lot of movement during the day but hardly anything beyond evening when the area turns pitch dark with none of the lights working. "The accused knew the area too well. Even to enter the bushes, one has to go through a narrow wire mesh. Once inside the bushes, it is impossible to spot anybody even from the walkway at night," said an officer.
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