Bangalore : A four-year-old girl was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Kodichikkanahalli Tuesday morning. The girl had sustained bruises on her chin, arms and legs and neck.

What added to the barbarity was that rodents or stray dogs had eaten away a portion of her left eye by the time the body was found.

According to the police, initial post-mortem report suggests she was sexually abused before being killed. However, there was no rape.

Sujatha (name changed) was the daughter of Pavitra and Mahadeva (names changed), both natives of Karadikere village near K M Doddi, Mandya district. The couple have two daughters – Sujatha and her two-year-old sister Manasa. While Mahadeva is engaged in farming at their native village, Pavitra moved in with her mother and two daughters to the City three months ago.

The family was staying at the Rotary Nagar slum near Kodichikkanahalli. Pavitra and her mother Sarojamma worked as domestic helps at a few houses in the neighbourhood.
Child care centre

Pavitra used to leave her two daughters at a government-run childcare centre (anganwadi) in the area. However, the centre closes at 3 pm on most occasions, even before Pavitra and her mother return home from work.

Hence, Pavitra had hired an elderly woman Bheemamma to fetch the two children from the anganwadi and look after them till she returned from work.

On Monday evening too, Bheemamma brought the two children from the anganwadi back home. Bheemamma said, “I brought home the two children. Manasa had mild fever.

So I made her sleep in my house. Sujatha was playing on the street with other children. I saw her grandmother Sarojamma coming and Sujatha running towards her. When Pavitra turned up to take her children back home, I told her Sujatha had gone home with her grandmother. But Pavitra returned saying Sujatha was not at home with the grandmother.”

Pavitra, her relatives and the neighbours combed the area until late midnight. According to the girl’s uncle Girish, they hired a public announcement system, mounted it on an autorickshaw announcing the details of the missing girl, but in vain.

Search resumed

The family resumed search again on early Tuesday morning. Pavitra, who went to Bheemamma’s house from where the girl went missing, discovered the body of her daughter near a bush at the end of the street.

A palatial house is being constructed beside the cliff. Rajeshwari, a local resident, said Pavitra collapsed, screaming aloud on seeing her daughter’s body.
Madiwala police rushed to the spot and retrieved the body. They said there were no blood stains at the spot or on the body of the girl except for scratch marks all over the body.

Girish said they had searched the same spot the previous evening and did not find the body.

Pavitra lodged a complaint with the Madiwala Police. She was taken to HSR Layout police station where she recorded her statement. The police have registered a case of murder and are investigating. Dr P S Harsha, DCP (South-East), said a special team led by ACP Subbanna, with four police inspectors and as many sub-inspectors has been formed to investigate the case.

Autopsy performed

An autopsy was performed on the girl at Victoria Hospital. Subbanna, ACP (Madiwala sub-division), said the initial opinion of doctors suggested that the girl was sexually abused.-DH News