Body of raped toddler found near Kasarwadi railway gate

Four-year-old Anita Bhandari had gone missing from outside her residence in Jawalkar Chawl on Saturday; Bhosari police, Governmnet Railway Police officials squabble over jurisdiction issues

Body of raped toddler found near Kasarwadi railway gate

The body of four-year-old Anita Sayyad Bhandari, who went missing from outside her residence on Saturday, was foundon the railway tracks near Kasarwadi railway gate yesterdaymorning.

Further investigation revealed that Anita had been raped. A case has been registered against unidentified accused for abducting, raping and murdering the toddler, and abandoning the body on the railway tracks to destroy evidence.

Tragic: Anita Bhandari

A resident of Kasarwadi, Anita went missing from near her residence in Jawalkar Chawl. After a futile search for his daughter in the area, her father Sayyad approached officials at the Bhosari police station and lodge a missing person’s complaint. The Bhandaris hail from Karnataka. While Sayyad is employed at a private firm, Anita’s mother works as a domestic help in the area.

Missing complaint
“On Saturday, Sayyad was at home while Anita was playing outside. After a while when he went to fetch her, Sayyad could not find her. After searching for a long time in the area, Anita’s parents then approached us and lodged a missing complaint,” PI Sudhir Aspat of the Bhosari police station said.

At 7 am yesterday a few people spotted Anita’s body on the railway track and alerted the railway police. “During investigation, it was revealed that the girl was raped and strangled, after which her body was abandoned on the railway track,” PI Mahendra Rokde of the Government Railway Police (GRP) said.

He said when nearby police stations were alerted about the body, they discovered that a missing person’s complaint was registered for Anita at Bhosari police station.

“We have registered a case against unidentified persons under the relevant sections of the IPC. But the case should ideally be registered at the Bhosari police station because the initial missing case was registered at there,” Rokde said.

Blame game
He also blamed officials of the Bhosari police station for not conducting further investigation. “After the incident came to light, the police personnel did not investigate the case and moved the case into our territory by saying that the incident has taken place in the GRP jurisdiction,” Rokde said.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner of Police of Zone III Shahaji Umap said he would talk to officials from the Bhosari police station and the GRP and try to resolve jurisdiction issue at once.u00a0

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels