New Delhi: A shocking case of alleged gang rape and murder of a minor girl has come to light in Delhis Swaroop Nagar area, with police apprehending four people, including three juveniles. The victims body was discovered in an open field near Kushak Road on September 13, several days after the alleged crime. According to police, the case initially appeared difficult to solve because there were no apparent eyewitnesses and the victim could not immediately be identified. Investigators eventually followed a trail of CCTV footage that helped them locate a suspected tempo and identify people allegedly connected with the crime. Delhi Police has listed the case as a blind rape and murder case cracked within 72 hours, with four people apprehended, including three juveniles.

Minor Girl Found Dead in Swaroop Nagar Field

Police received information about a body lying in an open field close to Kushak Road in the Swaroop Nagar area on September 13. The body was reportedly in an advanced state of decomposition, making identification difficult during the initial investigation. Reports said the condition of the body was so severe that investigators could not immediately establish the victims identity. Some parts of the body had also been disturbed by stray animals. The incident subsequently emerged as a suspected rape and murder case. Police registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Police Trace Suspected Tempo Through CCTV

With no clear eyewitness account available, investigators turned to technical evidence. A tempo moving around the area during the relevant period became an important lead in the investigation. The vehicles registration number was not clearly visible in some footage because of darkness and poor image quality. Police therefore followed the vehicles movements through several locations instead of relying on a single CCTV camera. Investigators examined footage from more than 50 CCTV cameras, mapping the suspected tempos route through the surrounding areas. This eventually helped police trace the vehicle to Khadda Colony in Swaroop Nagar. The CCTV trail became a crucial part of the investigation and helped police narrow down the group of people allegedly connected to the incident.

Four People Apprehended, Including Three Juveniles

Police subsequently questioned the tempo driver as part of the investigation. According to investigators, the questioning and CCTV evidence helped lead them to four suspects. One of the accused has been identified as Shivam alias Sudama, while the other three suspects are juveniles aged between 16 and 17, according to police reports. The victim was also known to at least one of the suspects, police said. The police have not treated the roles of all four suspects as identical and are continuing to establish exactly what happened and who was involved at each stage of the alleged crime.

Weapons and Other Evidence Recovered

During the investigation, police recovered two knives, clothes allegedly linked to the suspects, and the tempo believed to have been used around the time of the incident. Investigators are examining the recovered material through forensic procedures. The evidence will be important in establishing the sequence of events and determining whether the material recovered from the suspects matches the forensic evidence collected from the crime scene. Police are also examining the movements of the accused before and after the incident.

Victim and Accused Were Reportedly Known to Each Other

According to the investigation so far, the victim was acquainted with one of the accused. Police are examining the circumstances under which she met the group and how the events later unfolded. Initial reports indicate that the girl had gone to meet someone she knew before the alleged assault. Investigators are now working to reconstruct the timeline using CCTV footage, questioning of the accused, forensic material and other available evidence. Police are also checking whether anyone else had any role in the incident.

Investigation Continues

The case has raised fresh concerns over the safety of minors in the national capital, while the investigation remains underway. Police officials have said that the individual roles of the apprehended persons are being examined and that forensic and technical evidence is being verified. The authorities are expected to rely on forensic reports, CCTV footage, recovered articles and statements recorded during the investigation to establish the complete sequence of events. The case also demonstrates the growing role of CCTV networks in investigating crimes where there are no direct eyewitnesses. In this case, investigators reportedly reconstructed the movement of a suspected tempo across more than 50 cameras before tracing the vehicle and reaching the suspects. As the investigation progresses, police will determine the exact circumstances surrounding the alleged sexual assault and murder, the individual involvement of the four apprehended persons, and whether additional evidence or suspects emerge.