Foolproof evidence found against rapist-murderer

Itanagar, June 8: The decomposed and decimated body of a six-year-old girl has provided evidence to a heinous crime committed almost a year ago.

Police said the case of Mato Tanti, daughter of a poor labourer, missing since August 14 last year, was registered with the Chowkham Police Station under Lohit district in Arunachal Pradesh as an unnatural death case, following the recovery of the body.

The completely decomposed body with most parts, including the face, decimated to hide the identity, was recovered from a nearby jungle in Gunanagar, after five days, on August 18.

Her shirt had helped her parents to establish Mato's identity, but it had raised suspicions about the motive behind the modus operandi.

However, the Investigating Officer (IO) was clueless and the case gathered dust, till the arrest of her rapist-murderer, who spilled the beans.

One Jogeswar Shah (55) was arrested for allegedly raping the minor.

''The diligence of the IO resulted in the breakthrough of the year-old case with Shah confessing to killing the minor and pouring spirit on her body before throwing it in the jungle,'' Lohit Superintendent of Police (SP) C P Mansai said.

While the case had been re-registered, the corroborating evidences were sent to the forensic laboratory to file a foolproof chargesheet against the rapist-murderer, the SP added.

UNI