Bhopal, Jan 3 (NationPress) In a disturbing incident, a six-year-old tribal girl was reportedly assaulted and then violently murdered in Madhya Pradesh's Seoni district, according to police reports on Friday. The authorities have stated that the suspect has been captured.

The body of the young girl was discovered near a canal in Nayapura village, which is surrounded by a thick forest area in Seoni around 4:30 p.m. on Friday.

The child had been unaccounted for since the morning hours. It is believed she was taken from her home while she was asleep.

Following the recovery of the minor's body, police transported her to a community health center where a post-mortem examination was performed.

The autopsy revealed that the girl was initially assaulted and subsequently smothered to death.

The accused, identified as Ajay Dhurve from Kharda, has been arrested. According to police, he was employed on a farm in the Nayapura village.

During interrogation, he admitted to his crime, explaining that he abducted the girl while she was sleeping, assaulted her in the forest, and then killed her. He then disposed of her body near the canal, stated Nayapura police station chief Anup Uike.

Outraged by the horrific treatment of the young girl, her family and villagers organized a protest.

They placed the girl's body at Gandhi Chowk on the road (Seoni-Malwa) and called for the death penalty for the suspect.

Upon receiving the information, the police arrived at the scene to manage the situation.

A case has been lodged against the accused under the applicable sections of BNS.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Saroj Singh Parihar spoke with the furious protesters, assuring them that severe punishment would be meted out to the perpetrator.

The protesters agreed to conclude their demonstration after receiving a written guarantee from the local police that the chargesheet would be submitted within two weeks.