18-year-old girl raped in a government hostel

The girl was the only occupant on the fourth floor


Mumbai: On Tuesday, an 18-year-old girl from Akola was sexually assaulted and strangled to death in her room which is at fourth floor in a government hostel for girls in south Mumbai at night. 

 

The suspect, Prakash Kanojia, a security guard who doubled as laundry man, ended his life soon after, police said. His body was found on the tracks near Charni Road station Tuesday morning.

 

According to the police, the girl was the only occupant on the fourth floor, on Tuesday night was found murdered. A hostel CCTV camera caught Kanojia (35) going out with some cloths near the main gate security cabin and going out at 4.55am. He also had the keys to the terrace as he was in-charge of the water facilities of the hostel.

 

The crime came to light Tuesday evening when hostel authorities went looking for her as she was not responding to calls. When they looked into the room through a window, they found her body lying naked on the floor between two beds. The room was locked from outside. Though police suspect rape, they are waiting for the autopsy report.

 

The girl, a single child, was a second-year polytechnic student. Police said a hostel mate last spoke to her at 11.30pm Monday. She asked the girl to come to her room as she was alone on the fourth floor, but she said she preferred to stay in her room.

 

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