During a press briefing, SDGP IPS Akshay Sachdeva, along with high-ranking officials from the Gangtok District Police, announced that a minor school-going girl was reported missing to the Gangtok Sadar Police Station on April 11th. The missing report was filed under section 363 of the Indian Penal Code at the Sadar Police Station by a female investigating officer.
According to SDGP, a report was received from Lindok Police Station on April 14th, stating that grass cutter had discovered a dead body in the Fambong Lho jungle. At that time, the Sadar Police Station recorded an Unnatural Death (UD) case and sent the body for postmortem. Initially, medical team ‘indicated’ possibly that the case could be murder and sexual assault (Full PM report is awaited). It was later confirmed that the case was related to the same missing girl when a cross verification was done based on a photo provided by the mother and a locket that the dead body was wearing, which matched the missing girl’s.
The accused, Pritam Sharma, who is 29 years old and works as a driver, has been arrested. Accused hails from Samastipur , Bihar. He used to live in Sichey previously and is currently residing in Tathangcheng. According to reports, he lured the 11-year-old deceased victim by promising to drop her home after school. However, after the victim informed him (accused) that she had reached her house , the accused forced her to go with him. He then promised to buy her some juice and took her to Pangthang Fambong Jungle after filling up fuel at Swastik.
During the investigation, the accused admitted to sexually assaulting the minor deceased girl in the jungle. He then killed her out of fear to conceal evidence and claimed that he strangled her with a school tie. Initially, a murder case under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code was filed, but later, after the full postmortem report, a Sexual Assault case will be added, according to the police.
3:10 PM – 3:30 PM according to police as per CCTV footage she may have took ride in accused vehicle on 10 April after school. Exhibits collected from deceased are school bag and later things will be revealed as interrogation goes on, told SDGP IPS Akshay Sachdeva to media.
Press conference was attended by DIG Range Gangtok District Tashi Wangyal Bhutia, SP Gangtok IPS Tenzing Loden Lepcha, Additional SP Sonam Bhutia, Additional SP East Dist Mrs. K Bhutia and Myungur Bhutia SHO recently promoted to DSP Gangtok Sadar Police Station.
The Sikkim Police have vowed to ensure that the accused, Pritam Sharma, receives the harshest and most stringent punishment under the law.
CCTV Video Footage Surfaces Where Accused Driving His Taxi Waits For Opportunity To Fulfill His Temptation.
The police had a major clue about a taxi driver who was seen in a CCTV footage near Tibetan Jhora in Sichey where the girl had boarded the vehicle.
There was many plain cloth police pitched into investigation from all angle to bring conclusion in this case, in which CCTV was also important tool from where police successfully caught the culprit. The whole SIT team setup under direction of DGP were assigned their level of investigation from CDR analysis, public interactions, CCTV footage collections etc.
Assimilated leads were corroborated from all available sources gathered by SIT , on benefit of doubt one taxi lead was important and logical in case. The said driver’s tower location, vehicle driver was intercepted at Ranipul PS where he was detained on Monday evening. SIT confronted accused for more than 2 to 2 and half hours at Sadar PS Gangtok and finally accused admitted to his crime sexual assault and murder.
Pritam Sharma claimed he is married and was driving owner’s white color Wagon R to carry crime. Accused will be taken up for police remand until full-proof is collected from him. He has confessed he strangulated deceased with hand and later tied school tie on her neck to murder.
A blind murder case has been solved unto conclusion by hard efforts of our Special Investigation Team SIT within a very short span of time after occurrence , that’s a best part of Sikkim Police team SDGP told media.
SDGP apprised about POCSO case to media, he also mentioned that POCSO case is now gaining awareness among all. I have told all officers that POCSO case to be fair investigation from all angle after case comes in light.
He even has appealed public (owners) of Sikkim to verify tenants before renting because that will be very important work from there part ensuring safety of all. House owners should keep record of tenant’s track record , history and address. Police verification is very important learning crime is increasing day by day , police will play their responsibility same way we ensure public also gets involved.
Chief Judicial Magistrate CJM Gangtok has permitted 14 days judicial remand of accused today. During the production of accused agitated citizens poured in demanding stringent action not less than death. However, police escorting the accused managed to clear their way towards the CJM office.
Family of deceased has demanded ‘Death for Death’ penalty against accused Pritam Sharma , he must be hanged that will bring justice to my daughter. We don’t require anything, kill him and kill him!!
Agitated public speaks with media following arrest of criminal who sexually assaulted and killed 11 years old minor school girl
Sadar Police while producing murdered Pritam Sharma at CJM Office at DC Court Premise agitated youths chased the escorted criminal with rage, they demands he must be killed since such element has no right to live. However police flung in action to avoid any untoward incident with detained criminal.
Today, while speaking to the media at the CJM court premises, Mr. Nawin Kiran Pradhan, who was once a vocal social activist and is now an advocate, strongly condemned a recent incident as a heinous and inhumane act that is unacceptable by all standards of humanity. Pradhan stated that he had rushed to the court after the accused was produced by the Gangtok Police. He also expressed his opinion that no advocate should defend someone who is guilty of such a crime. In his view, the guilty party deserves capital punishment, which means the death penalty.
Jacob Khaling, Political Secretary to Chief Minister has applauded the SIT of Sikkim Police’s for accomplishing the mysterious case within a short time.
Press Release Reads as follows
Crime is an act which offends and threatens the society, and thus such acts need to be punished. The basic reasons behind the making of law are to penalize those who commit a crime and these laws are the result of society’s need to stop happening of such acts. Recently some crime incidents have been reported in the state which has shook us all up. We cannot tolerate such heinous crimes in the state and I strongly condemn such acts.
The murder of minor school girl whose body was found at Pangthang nursery is bone chilling and harshest, strictest punishment should be metet to the alleged murderer. Nevertheless hats off to Gangtok Police for solving the murder case within 72 hours. This is a significant achievement of Sikkim Police and shows their efficiency and commitment towards keeping our state safe.
Another case was of a person from West Bengal who was intercepted at Melli check post on 14.04.2023 enroute Siliguri with a minor girl of Geyzing district. Due to alertness on duty of Police staffs and cooperation from driver of the vehicle, the minor girl was saved and handed over to her local guardian.
A 51 year old man was beaten to death on 10.04.2023 at Development Area where police have arrested a man on charges of murder after scanning through CCTV footages and witnesses acquainted with facts and circumstances of the case were examined.
All the above cases were solved by Sikkim Police in record time which goes to prove their promptness in action and extreme efficiency. Rather than making a political issue out of everything, we believe in working silently so as to ensure that the administration and law and order is fully working at the best. Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri P.S.Tamang has been in constant touch with the head of administration and police forces in all cases of public domain specially the recent cases which has affected us all. We are working 24/7 vigilantly leaving any kind of political and non political affiliations aside to ensure that Sikkim remains safe and blessed as it always has been.
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