Two held for murder of three U.P. Dalit girls

A search is on for two others who were present at the scene of crime

The Uttar Pradesh police claimed to have cracked the case of murder of three Dalit girls with the arrest of two persons on Sunday.

A search is on for two others who were present at the scene of crime near Piparjhulli Tola village in Deoria district, an official spokesman said here.

The police recovered a blood-stained axe some distance away from the scene on the basis of the statements of Dheeraj Gaur and Amresh alias Loha.

Autopsy report

The autopsy report has ruled out rape before the murder.

The spokesman said the post mortem was conducted by a panel of five doctors, including two lady doctors. Unrequited love is believed to be the motive behind the crime, the spokesman said.

The two younger girls were killed to wipe out evidence.

The girls, aged 18, 14 and 9, left home on March 20 for collecting fodder in Siwan. When the girls did not return in the evening, their family members launched a search and informed the Barhaj police late at night.

The bodies were found two km from their home on the morning of March 21.

Two bodies were found on a wheat field, and the third a small distance away, all bearing wounds on the head, the police said.