10-year-old girl found dead at Mathura shelter home; role of 2 minors under lens

In Mathura, India, a disturbing incident has come to light where two minor girls, aged 15, are suspected of killing a 10-year-old girl at a state-run shelter home. The victim, a Class 2 student, had been transferred to the shelter home from another facility in Rampur in June.

According to police, the girls allegedly drowned the victim by submerging her head in a bucket in the bathroom. CCTV footage and other evidence seem to confirm their involvement, and the girls reportedly confessed to the act. They claimed their motive was to leave the shelter home, which they believed would close down following such an incident, allowing them to flee.

Both accused girls are survivors of the Pocso Act and had been residing at the shelter home for the past four months. The incident came to light after a complaint was filed by the shelter home’s superintendent. Police registered a case against five named girls and other unidentified residents.

During the investigation, police reviewed CCTV footage which showed three girls entering the bathroom around 11 am on Friday. Approximately 40 minutes later, two of the girls emerged from the bathroom and returned to their beds, while the victim did not exit the bathroom. Varun Mishra, Circle Officer in Mathura, stated that no other inmates have been implicated in the investigation so far, and evidence collection is ongoing.

The shelter home currently houses 140 girls, many of whom were transferred there due to personal circumstances, such as the mother's mental health condition.