Minor girl raped and brutally murdered.

Dehra Dun, Apr 16 (UNI) An unidentified assailant allegedly raped and brutally murdered an eight-year-old girl by smashing her head with a stone here.

According to the police, the eight-year-old Mamta, from shahranpur, had come with her family along with a group of 40-45 people to offer prayers in Suntala Devi Mandir situated atop a hill near Nun river yesterday when she went missing.

An FIR was lodged in Cantt police thana. Police recovered the body of Mamta this morning from a forest area at Nun river with her head brutally smashed.

The possibility of rape could not be ruled out, police said. The body has been sent for an autopsy.

UNI/XC SHR RN1744