Mason arrested for 14-year-old girl’s rape, murder

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The Tavarakere police on Thursday arrest ed a mason for the murder and suspected rape of a 14-year-old girl in the town on Wednes day. The accused hails from Raichur and was working in Tavarekere for the last few months.

On Wednesday, the victim was alone at home and her parents and brother were away at work. The family hails from Koppal and was liv ing in Tavarekere for the last two years where they were working as masons. The accused, who was allegedly under the influ ence of ganja, barged into the girl’s home and allegedly raped and murdered her. He was arrested in the wee hours before he could plan his escape. He was attempting to sell an LPG cylinder to fund his escape, police said.

Police Superintendent R Srinivas Gowda on Thursday said, we have arrested one person and are questioning him. While it is certain that the girl was murdered, the post mortem report will reveal if there was rape. He further said that the accused have moved in to a rented house at Kuvempu Nagar in Tava rekere about six months ago and spotted the vic tim about 15 days ago during a local festival.

He would watch her move ments every day and on Wednesday afternoon, he barged into the victim’s house and murdered her. He tried to sell an LPG cyl inder to raise money for his escape, but he was arrested by then. "We are questioning him further and probe is under way."