Youth held for rape and murder of three-year-old girl

A three-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered by a man in her neighbourhood in Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh, police said today.
"Lochan Srivas (23) was arrested today for the crime that occurred in Gandhi Nagar under Jute Mill police station area," said Raigarh city superintendent of police (CSP) Satyendra Pandey.
The toddler's parents had yesterday lodged a complaint about the child having gone missing while playing near her home.
As per the preliminary investigation, the accused tried to mislead the victim's mother by telling her that he can help her locate her daughter through some black magic, the officer said.

"Subsequently, Srivas told them that the girl was somewhere near Amlibhauna where her body was later found packed in a jute sack early this morning," he said.
Srivas broke down during interrogation and confessed to the crime, Pandey added.
In his statement, the accused said that after finding the girl playing alone he took her to his home and sexually assaulted her.
A case under IPC's section 376 (rape), 302 (murder) and provisions ofPOCSO(Protection of Children from Sexual Offence)Acthas been registered against the accused, he said, adding that further probe was on.