The Darbhanga police have arrested a local shopkeeper named Vikas Kumar Mahto in connection with the tragic murder of an 8-year-old girl. The body of the minor was found near Patwa Pokhar in the Vishwavidyalaya Police Station area late Saturday night. The incident has triggered massive public anger, leading to protests and arson in the area on Sunday morning. Senior police officials are currently camping at the spot to maintain law and order.
How did the police catch the accused?
Darbhanga SSP Jagunath Reddy Jala Reddy led the operation immediately after the blood-stained body was discovered on February 7. The police team used dog squads and local intelligence to track down the suspect. The trail led them to Vikas Kumar Mahto, who ran a small shop (gumti) very close to the crime scene. He was arrested within hours of the discovery. A case has been officially registered against him under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the stringent POCSO Act.
Why did the public block the roads?
Local residents became very angry when the news spread on Sunday morning, February 8. A mob gathered near Patwa Pokhar and set fire to the shop belonging to the accused. The protesters also blocked two major routes:
- The Kadirabad-Sundarpur road.
- The main road near Bela Durga Temple leading to Delhi Mor.
The police had to use lathi charge to control the crowd after reports of stone-pelting. Authorities have deployed extra force in the University and Kadirabad areas to prevent any further violence. The body has been sent to DMCH for a post-mortem examination by a medical board.
