New Delhi: An 11-year-old girl was beheaded allegedly by her uncle in West Bengal's Malda district, triggering massive protests.
While the accused claimed he killed the minor because his father had humiliated and thrashed him in public several times in the past, the police also suspect that she might have been raped before being murdered.
The body has been sent for post-mortem examination to Malda Medical College and Hospital.
The torso and the head of the girl, who had been missing since January 29, were found in different spots in Malda city.
The accused, a 27-year-old man, was traced through a CCTV footage, in which he was seen with the girl just before she went missing.
When questioned, the man at first tried to mislead the police, but later confessed to murdering her and led the police to recover her body parts.
The incident has sparked massive protests in the city, with people demanding action against the girl's uncle for the brutal murder.
BJP, Trinamool Congress and the CPI(M) also staged protest rallies and silent vigils to condemn the incident.
The man has been arrested and sent to 12 days police custody, officials said.