Patna: The family of a 12-year-old girl, whose body was found two days after she went missing, performed her last rites at the doorstep of a relative they suspect of being involved in her death.The incident took place in Khanpur Ajmat village under Thawe police station area in Gopalganj district on Thursday. Villagers and police personnel were present during the funeral.The deceased, Sanjana, daughter of Pawan Singh, was a Class VI student at a private school in the village. She was the younger of two sisters and had a brother. Her father lives abroad.Sanjana went missing on the evening of Oct 12 while going to the cowshed. According to her family, an elderly woman from their extended family gave her a bar of soap and asked her to deliver it to her house. Sanjana went there but did not return home.Her body was recovered near a relative’s house on Oct 14. The family alleged that she was abducted and killed because of an old dispute between the two families. Police said the allegations were being investigated.Family members said the two families had a dispute during the Pidiya festival about a year ago. They alleged that the enmity led to Sanjana’s abduction and murder. After her body was found, they accused the relative of being involved in her death and performed her last rites at his doorstep.The incident prompted police to reach the spot and try to pacify the family. They assured the family of legal action against anyone found guilty, but the relatives went ahead with the last rites.Sadar SDPO Chandan Kumar said the circumstances surrounding the girl’s death were being investigated. “After investigation, whoever is found guilty will be punished,” he said. He added that the family members had been advised against performing the last rites at the location, but they did not agree.
