The body of a seven-year-old girl who had gone missing on Saturday afternoon was found covered with burlap on the roof of a mosque in Muradnagar in Ghaziabad district on Sunday. The police said it appeared that the minor had been strangulated.

Following the incident, the area has been fortified with heavy police deployment. The victim's family members suspect that a member of the municipal council is involved in the murder.

The police have identified the child as Reshma, a resident of a mohalla in Muradnagar. She had gone missing while making her way back home on foot from a shop in the neighbourhood.

"The family stated that the girl had gone to buy something from the store. When she didn't return after a long time, they started looking for her. Then had to approach the police to lodge a complaint when they failed to find her," said a senior police officer.

On Sunday morning, when one of the local residents went up to the mosque's roof, he spotted the body covered with sackcloth, after which the family members were informed.

The body has been sent for autopsy to ascertain the cause of death. Police investigations are underway.

"The girl's relatives are alleging that her attackers belong to the same locality and have political differences with the family. We are probing the case. We have added Indian Penal Code sections for murder to the FIR lodged for kidnapping," said Vaibhav Krishna, Senior Superintendent of Police, Ghaziabad.

Police forces deployed in the area say there weren't any problems of law and order, but they were keeping a close eye on both the parties. "Senior cops are monitoring the situation continuously. Some suspects have been taken under custody for interrogation," a senior police officer said.

POLICESPEAK

Senior SP of Ghaziabad said that the 7-year-old’s relatives are alleging her attackers belong to the same locality as theirs and have political differences with the family.