Public anger boiled over in Khagaria, Bihar, following the rape and brutal slaying of a young girl, leading to chaotic street protests that paralyzed the district.
Details emerged of the 12-year-old’s ordeal: she was abducted near her village, subjected to unimaginable violence, and dumped in a field. Villagers who found her raised immediate alarms, but it was too late. The post-mortem report painted a grim picture, confirming both rape and strangulation as causes of death.
What began as a small vigil quickly swelled into a massive rally. Protesters pelted stones at the local thana, demanding the SP’s resignation and exemplary punishment. ‘Justice delayed is justice denied,’ banners proclaimed, as families shielded their children from the brewing unrest.
Khagaria police, caught off-guard, have ramped up operations with dog squads and cyber teams tracing potential leads. A high-level inquiry has been ordered, with the district magistrate appealing for calm. Suspects’ sketches have been circulated based on preliminary witness statements.
Experts point to systemic issues like poor lighting, lack of awareness programs, and overburdened police stations as enablers of such crimes. National outrage is mounting, with social media amplifying calls for a zero-tolerance policy. In Khagaria, the fight for one girl’s justice symbolizes a larger battle for every child’s safety.