Bhandara girl's rape and murder suspect held in Akola

Nagpur, Nov 26 (UNI) The police today arrested from Akola Sudhakar Ramteke, prime suspect in the recent rape and murder of a minor girl in Bhandara district in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.

Sleuths from the Akola police nabbed Ramteke after receiving a tip-off from informers, Inspector Vasant Shirbhate of Bhandara police station, who is investigating the case, said.

A team of Bhandara police, which happened to be in Akola in connection with the investigations, took Ramteke into custody and is bringing him to Bhandara. The team is expected to reach Bhandara later tonight, Mr Shirbhate said.

Ramteke is the prime suspect in the rape and murder of 10-year-old Ankita Lanjewar in Lakhandur in Bhandara district on October 13 last. He is a habitual offender and had been absconding since.

There had been protests in Bhandara over the incident and demands over the culprit's arrest. Congress MLA Nana Patole was arrested in Bhandara for violating prohibitory orders during protests to demand the arrest of the accused. He later staged a hunger strike in Nagpur Central Jail to press the demand.

The state government has paid a compensation of two lakh rupees to the girl's mother and also promised to give a job to one member of her family member.

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