Raiganj girl, 12, found dead in jungle after 2 days missing; rape and murder suspected
Synopsis
A 12-year-old girl who went missing during a bicycle ride in Raiganj, West Bengal, was found dead in a jungle two days later — her body partially decomposed and unclothed. With rape and murder suspected and no arrests yet, the case has sparked tension locally and renewed focus on child safety in the state.
Key Takeaways
The semi-decomposed body of a 12-year-old girl was found in a jungle in Raiganj, North Dinajpur , West Bengal on 6 November 2026 .
The girl had gone missing on the afternoon of 3 November after leaving home for a bicycle ride.
The body was found without clothing, raising suspicions of sexual assault and murder ; police await the post-mortem report for confirmation.
No arrests or detentions have been made so far in connection with the case.
Police are examining CCTV footage and the victim's mobile phone as part of the ongoing investigation.
The semi-decomposed body of a 12-year-old girl was recovered from a jungle in Raiganj, North Dinajpur district, West Bengal, on Friday morning, 6 November 2026, two days after she was reported missing, triggering tension in the area. The state of the body — found without clothing — has raised suspicions of sexual assault and murder, though police have cautioned that the exact nature of the crime will be established only after a post-mortem examination.
How the Body Was Discovered
According to the victim's family, the girl had stepped out for a bicycle ride on the afternoon of 3 November and did not return home. Family members searched multiple locations before lodging a missing person complaint at Raiganj Police Station the same day, prompting a formal search operation.
On Friday morning, word spread locally that the body of a minor had been spotted inside a jungle in the area. Family members rushed to the site and identified the partially decomposed body as that of the missing girl. Police personnel reached the spot shortly after, recovered the body, and dispatched it for post-mortem examination, which was scheduled for Friday itself.
What the Family Said
The girl's aunt, who shares the same household, described the sequence of events to media persons. 'I went out for work on Tuesday morning. When I returned home, I learnt that she was missing. We subsequently searched for her at various places but could not trace her. Now, this morning, her body has been recovered from inside the jungle,' she said.
Family members suspect the girl was sexually assaulted before being killed, though investigators have urged restraint pending the medical findings.
What Police Have Said
An investigating officer confirmed that law enforcement shares the suspicion but stressed that nothing can be conclusively established before the post-mortem report. 'Though we too suspect that this could be a case of rape and murder, it cannot be conclusively established at this stage whether sexual assault took place. The post-mortem report will help determine this,' the officer said.
Investigators are working to reconstruct the sequence of events between the time the girl went missing on the afternoon of 3 November and the discovery of her body on 6 November. No arrests or detentions have been made so far.
Investigation Under Way
Police are examining CCTV footage from cameras installed in and around the area where the body was recovered. The girl's mobile phone is also being analysed as part of the investigation. The Raiganj police have launched a formal probe to identify those responsible and determine the circumstances leading to her death.
This incident comes amid heightened public concern over crimes against children in West Bengal, with the state having witnessed several high-profile cases in recent years. The outcome of the post-mortem report is expected to be a critical turning point in the investigation.
Point of View
Investigators face pressure to move quickly. The political climate in the state means such cases inevitably acquire partisan dimensions, but the focus must remain on accountability: who the perpetrators are, how the child came to be in that jungle, and whether the police response to the missing complaint was adequate.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where and when was the girl's body found?
The body was found in a jungle in Raiganj, North Dinajpur district, West Bengal, on the morning of 6 November 2026, two days after the girl was reported missing.
What do police suspect happened?
Police suspect this could be a case of rape and murder, based on the condition in which the body was found — unclothed and partially decomposed. However, they have stated that a conclusive determination will be made only after the post-mortem examination.
When did the girl go missing?
The girl, aged 12, left her home for a bicycle ride on the afternoon of 3 November and did not return. A missing person complaint was filed with Raiganj Police Station the same day.
Has anyone been arrested in connection with the case?
No. As of 6 November 2026, no arrests or detentions have been made. Police have launched a formal investigation and are examining CCTV footage and the victim's mobile phone to identify those responsible.
What steps are investigators taking?
The Raiganj police are analysing CCTV cameras in and around the area where the body was recovered and examining the victim's mobile phone. Investigators are also working to reconstruct the sequence of events between the girl's disappearance on 3 November and the discovery of her body on 6 November.
