Ranchi, April 6 (NationPress) In a deeply disturbing incident that has sent shockwaves across Jharkhand, authorities have revealed the murder of a minor girl who was allegedly killed by a man and his son due to what they termed as “social stigma”.

The suspects then covertly transported her remains to Gaya in Bihar, where they cremated her in an effort to eliminate evidence.

This grim case emerged during inquiries into the girl’s mysterious disappearance from the Ratu Police Station vicinity. What initially seemed to be a simple missing person report swiftly transformed into a murder investigation, uncovering a harrowing crime committed within a household.

As per police reports, the primary suspect, Subodh Pathak — a resident of Jhakhra Tand in Ratu, Ranchi — had taken the girl from a financially struggling family nearly eight years prior, raising her as if she were his own daughter. However, she vanished under dubious circumstances just days ago. When neighbors inquired about her whereabouts, the family provided no satisfactory answers, leading to rising concerns in the community.

On the night of April 2, tensions peaked as locals congregated outside the home of the accused, suspecting foul play.

In response to this information, law enforcement initiated an investigation and searched the premises with a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team, although initial results were inconclusive.

An FIR was lodged on April 3, prompting the formation of a special investigation team under the guidance of the SSP, Ranchi. Leveraging technical surveillance and various leads, police focused on Subodh Pathak and his son Rahul Pathak, who were later detained for questioning.

During intense interrogations, the two admitted to the crime, disclosing that the girl was killed inside their home and that her body was subsequently transported to Gaya using a hired ambulance, where it was cremated to destroy evidence.

Authorities reported that the accused cited “lok-laj” (fear of social stigma) as their motive.

The suspects claimed that the girl had developed a connection through Instagram with Rahul Pathak’s brother-in-law, which escalated into a close relationship. This infuriated the father and son, leading them to plot her murder.

Police have seized the ambulance used to move the body. The driver, identified as Pintu Kumar Singh, informed investigators that Subodh Pathak had falsely claimed his “13-year-old daughter” had passed away and hired his services to transport her for last rites in Gaya.

Authorities have also recovered two mobile phones from the apprehended individuals, which are currently being analyzed for additional evidence.

The case was significantly advanced by Ratu Police Station in-charge Adikant Mahto, along with Sub-Inspectors Mahesh Prasad Kushwaha, Santosh Yadav, and Anuranjan Kumar.

Both suspects have been arrested and placed in judicial custody. The investigation continues as authorities seek to gather more evidence and clarify the sequence of events.