The Hindu : National : Two more held in Goa schoolgirl murder case

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National

Two more held in Goa schoolgirl murder case

Special Correspondent

The 16-year-old was kidnapped by her aunt last week
Rift among family members cited as
the reason

PANAJI: Two more persons have been arrested in connection with the unnatural death of a schoolgirl in Valpoi town of north Goa, around 50 km. from here.

The 16-year-old, who was kidnapped by her aunt Snehal Gaonkar last week, died at the Goa Medical College Hospital.

While Ms. Gaonkar, arrested on Friday, for allegedly assaulting and poisoning her niece, has been remanded to two-day police custody by a Judicial Magistrate's Court at Valpoi, her father Santosh Raut and mother Sumedha Raut were arrested on Sunday.

All have been charged with the murder of the school girl by poisoning, under Sections 302 and 328 of the IPC.

Police told The Hindu on Sunday that all the three will be produced in court on Monday for remand.

The girl was admitted to hospital as she was found to have been severely assaulted. Her medical examination soon established that she had also been given rat poison.

According to police, on July 16 the aunt picked up her niece from her school at Poriem-Sattari (north Goa) and took her to an isolated place in Bicholim (north Goa) where she confined her in a room.

When the girl's father went to collect his daughter at Valpoi bus stand after school hours, he could not find her.

Suspecting foul play by Ms. Gaonkar, the father contacted Valpoi police later in the night. The police along with their counterparts in Bicholim located the missing girl.

Ms. Gaonkar had kidnapped the girl to settle scores following a rift among family members some months ago.

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