News Analysis India

Tag: Chhattisgarh

  • Ramayana Mahoutsav: Minute by Minute Coverage

    Artists acting on the Main Stage of the National Ramayana Mahoutsav.

    Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel reached the National Ramayana Festival organized at Ramlila Maidan, Raigarh.
    With the strains of “Ram Ram Jai Rajaram, Ram Ram Jai Sitaram”, the entire stage is stuffed with pleasure, fantastic breeze of devotion.

    Chief Minister Mr. Baghel inaugurated this system by lighting the lamp and singing the state anthem of Chhattisgarh.

    On the inauguration of the competition, Chief Minister Mr. Baghel was welcomed with a replica of Ramcharit Manas and a state pot.

    Chief Minister Mr. Baghel honored the Ramnami neighborhood.
    This neighborhood has devoted its whole life to Ram.

    March Past Begins

    The Indonesian contingent is marching.
    Madhav Kandali is the creator of the Assamese Ramayana, simply as Kritivas composed the fantastic Ramayana in Bengali, equally the Assamese Ramayana is deeply rooted within the folks custom in Assam. The 21-member crew has come from Assam.
    March previous of the Ramnami neighborhood in conventional apparel in entrance of the primary stage.
    The artist crew that got here from Goa to Chhattisgarh additionally took half within the march previous.
    A 25-member contingent from Jharkhand carried out a march previous with their conventional devices and costumes. They are additionally carrying particular masks.

    A 12-member troupe of artists has come from Kerala.
    A contingent from the neighboring state of Madhya Pradesh additionally participated within the march previous. There are 25 members on this crew.
    The troupe from Karnataka and the 18-member artist troupe from Maharashtra gave an exquisite presentation within the march previous. Bajrangbali is strolling forward of them.
    Ravana is seen main the Uttarakhand crew. This fantastic custom the place even Rama sends Lakshmana to get data from Ravana on the final second in order that Ravana can go on his data to Lakshmana on the time of his loss of life.
    Chhattisgarh events additionally had a good looking presentation.
    270 members from 12 states are collaborating on this event. 70 artists from the state and 27 artists from overseas are included.

    Ramayana competition acquired nice appreciation

    Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel right this moment inaugurated the National Ramayana Festival at Ramlila Maidan in Raigarh district. Not solely individuals of Chhattisgarh however individuals of the entire nation are connecting with the National Ramayana Festival organized within the state and right this moment the National Ramayana Festival dominated the social media all through the day. National Ramayana Festival trended on quantity 01 in numerous social media mediums and folks extremely appreciated the initiative of the state authorities to prepare National Ramayana Festival.

    It is noteworthy that for the primary time in Chhattisgarh, the ‘National Ramayana Festival’ is being organized from June 01 to 03 on the historic Ramlila Maidan in Raigarh. Devotional presentation on Ramkatha will probably be given by Ramayana troupes from Cambodia and Indonesia together with 12 states of the nation on this nationwide competition. In the presentation of those Ramayana events, a glimpse of the various national-global types of Ramkatha of the omnipresent Lord Shriram is being seen.

    The competitors of Ramayana events has additionally began on the Aranya Kand of Ramayana. Along with this, nationally famend artists will give their musical presentation in Bhajan Sandhya within the Mahotsav. Ramkatha’s uninterrupted sentiment will circulation for 3 days in Ramlila Maidan. Ramayana groups from Kerala, Karnataka, Odisha, Assam, Goa, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are taking part on this nationwide competition. On the final day of the National Ramayana Festival, eminent Hindi poet Kumar Vishwas will extol the glory of Lord Shri Ram along with his particular efficiency ‘Apne-Apne Ram Music Night’.

    We are doing the work of preserving our tradition.
    Teams of Ramkatha have additionally been fashioned in our villages.
    Ram belongs to everybody. Belongs to Nishadraj, belongs to Shabri. Everyone feels affinity with them.
    By writing a letter to the Chief Ministers of different states, we’ve requested for two acres of land for pilgrimage websites, in order that our devotees can get services after they go there.

    Ramayana groups from 8 states will current on the second day
    Baba Hansraj Raghuvanshi and Lakhbir Singh Lakkha will carry out in Bhajan Sandhya

    Renowned nationwide artists Baba Hansraj Raghuvanshi and Lakhbir Singh Lakkha will carry out bhajans on the second day of the ‘National Ramayana Festival’ being organized for the primary time in Chhattisgarh. It is value mentioning that on this competition being organized on the historic Ramlila floor of Raigad from June 01 to three, the competitors of Ramayana events is being organized every day on the Aranya Kand of Ramayana. Chhattisgarh’s folks singer Shri Dilip Shadangi alongside along with his crew will recite Hanuman Chalisa every day throughout the competition. Along with this, Bhajan night will probably be organized each night time, during which well-known artists of the nation will give their performances.

    The stage program of the second day of the National Ramayana Festival will begin from 2 pm. Culture Minister Mr. Amarjit Bhagat would be the chief visitor of this system and School Education Minister Dr. Premsai Singh Tekam will preside over this system. There will probably be group recitation of Hanuman Chalisa at 2.15 pm in this system and groups from 8 states Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Goa and Chhattisgarh will take part within the Aranya Kand primarily based competitors organized from 2.30 pm to eight.30 pm. Renowned nationwide artist Baba Hansraj Raghuvanshi and Lakhbir Singh Lakkha will current bhajans from 9.30 pm to 10.30 pm in Bhajan Sandhya from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm.

    The spotlight of the third day of the competition would be the efficiency of the Ramayana troupe from Indonesia. In the presentation of those Ramayana events, a glimpse of the various national-global types of Ramkatha of the omnipresent Lord Shriram will probably be seen. Along with this, nationally famend artists will give their musical presentation in Bhajan Sandhya. In the Ramlila Maidan, the continual circulation of Ramkatha will circulation. On the final day of the National Ramayana Festival, eminent Hindi poet Kumar Vishwas will extol the glory of Lord Shri Ram via his particular efficiency ‘Apne-Apne Ram Music Night’.

    Started efficiency with the track “Deva Shree Ganesha”

    Shanmukh Priya greets the viewers with Jai Johar and Chhattisgarhiya Sable Badiya
    Said – I’ve come for the primary time, I really feel excellent.

  • Chhattisgarh: Two Naxalites killed in encounter with police in Sukma

    By PTI

    SUKMA: Two Naxalites, including a woman, were killed in an encounter with police in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Monday morning, an official said.

    A cache of explosives and an automatic weapon were recovered from the encounter site, he said.

    The gunfight took place in a forest near Danteshpuram village under Bheji police station limits when a team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) was out on an anti-Naxal operation, Sukma Superintendent of Police Sunil Sharma told PTI.

    The Naxalites opened fire on the DRG’s patrolling team following which the gun-battle broke out, he said. After guns fell silent, bodies of two Naxalites were recovered from the spot, the official said.

    They were identified as Madkam Erra, who was active as commander of Golapalli Local Organisation Squad (LOS), and Madkam Bhime, deputy commander of the same squad, he said.

    Erra and Bhime were carrying rewards of Rs 8 lakh and Rs 3 lakh respectively on their heads, the official said. A search operation was underway in nearby areas, he added.

    SUKMA: Two Naxalites, including a woman, were killed in an encounter with police in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Monday morning, an official said.

    A cache of explosives and an automatic weapon were recovered from the encounter site, he said.

    The gunfight took place in a forest near Danteshpuram village under Bheji police station limits when a team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) was out on an anti-Naxal operation, Sukma Superintendent of Police Sunil Sharma told PTI.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The Naxalites opened fire on the DRG’s patrolling team following which the gun-battle broke out, he said. After guns fell silent, bodies of two Naxalites were recovered from the spot, the official said.

    They were identified as Madkam Erra, who was active as commander of Golapalli Local Organisation Squad (LOS), and Madkam Bhime, deputy commander of the same squad, he said.

    Erra and Bhime were carrying rewards of Rs 8 lakh and Rs 3 lakh respectively on their heads, the official said. A search operation was underway in nearby areas, he added.

  • Chhattisgarh: 11 persons killed in SUV-truck collision

    By PTI

    BALOD: Eleven persons, including five women and two children, were killed when a sports utility vehicle (SUV) they were travelling in collided with a truck in Chhattisgarh’s Balod district, police said on Thursday.

    The victims, natives of Soram-Bhatgaon village in Dhamtari district, were on their way to a wedding, police said, adding the accident took place near Jagtara village under Purur police station area on National Highway-30 on Wednesday night.

    The victims were going to attend a wedding in Markatola village of Kanker district when their vehicle collided head-on with the truck, said Arun Kumar Sahu, Station House Officer of Purur police station.

    While ten occupants of the Mahindra Bolero died on the spot, a child succumbed to injuries while being shifted to hospital, he said.

    The bodies have been sent for postmortem, he said, adding efforts are on to trace the truck driver who fled the scene leaving behind his vehicle.

    Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has expressed grief over the incident

    BALOD: Eleven persons, including five women and two children, were killed when a sports utility vehicle (SUV) they were travelling in collided with a truck in Chhattisgarh’s Balod district, police said on Thursday.

    The victims, natives of Soram-Bhatgaon village in Dhamtari district, were on their way to a wedding, police said, adding the accident took place near Jagtara village under Purur police station area on National Highway-30 on Wednesday night.

    The victims were going to attend a wedding in Markatola village of Kanker district when their vehicle collided head-on with the truck, said Arun Kumar Sahu, Station House Officer of Purur police station.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    While ten occupants of the Mahindra Bolero died on the spot, a child succumbed to injuries while being shifted to hospital, he said.

    The bodies have been sent for postmortem, he said, adding efforts are on to trace the truck driver who fled the scene leaving behind his vehicle.

    Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has expressed grief over the incident

  • A 3-day Mata Kaushalya Mahotsav in Chandkhuri

    Raipur. 21 April 2023. The state govt’s Tradition Division is setting up an ideal birthday celebration titled ‘Mata Kaushalya Mahotsav-2023’ in Lord Shri Ram’s mom’s birthplace Chandkhuri. The movement of devotion to Shri Ram will glide thru Lord Shri Ram’s mom’s birthplace Chandkhuri all over the three-day competition, which will likely be held from April 22 to April 24, and will likely be stuffed with religion and devotion. On all 3 days, famend artists from the rustic and the state will carry out Manas songs, devotional songs, dances, and hymns. The competition will likely be inaugurated on April 22 by means of Leader Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel. On Republic Day this yr, Leader Minister Mr. Baghel made a statement that the Kaushalya Mahotsav could be held in Chandkhuri yearly. Artists Kavita Paudwal, Raminder Khurana, Trupti Shakya from Mumbai, Vyomesh Shukla from Varanasi, Prabhanjay Chaturvedi, and Devesh Sharma from Chhattisgarh will give a devotional efficiency The state govt is organizing this nationwide competition to deliver the elegance of Mata Kaushalya’s birthplace, Chandkhuri, to the sector level and to advertise artwork, tradition, and tourism right here. On April 22, Shri Vyomesh Shukla Ram ki Shakti Puja from Varanasi and Ms. Kavita Paudwal from Mumbai will carry out devotional songs and bhajans. In the meantime, Ms. Raminder Khurana of Mumbai will carry out a devotional classical dance play on the second one day of the competition, April 23, and Shri Prabhanjay Chaturvedi of Bhilai will carry out a bhajan. Mr. Devesh Sharma of Raigarh and Ms. Trupti Shakya of Mumbai, alternatively, will likely be appearing devotional melodies, track, and bhajans at the competition’s closing day, April 24. On all 3 days of the competition, the famed Manas Mandalis of Chhattisgarh will play Manas songs.

  • Removal of converts from Scheduled Caste list: Chhattisgarh CM slams BJP over rally

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: A rally was held in Raipur in Chhattisgarh on Sunday by the ‘Janjati Suraksha Manch’ seeking the removal of the Scheduled Caste status of those who have converted from Hinduism to other religions.

    Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, however, said the rally was a “political show” backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

    “Religious conversions which were taking place on a large scale in Bastar, Surguja and Jashpur are now happening in the plain areas of the state as well. The Baghel government is doing nothing to stop it, which is emboldening those involved in such conversions,” former state minister and BJP leader Ramvichar Netam claimed.

    Hitting back, Baghel said BJP leaders must “gherao” their nine Lok Sabha MPs from the state over this “delisting” demand.

    “They (BJP) did not raise this issue when their party was in power under Raman Singh. Delisting is a matter of the Centre and the state government has no say in it. The BJP is misleading people,” Baghel said.

    RAIPUR: A rally was held in Raipur in Chhattisgarh on Sunday by the ‘Janjati Suraksha Manch’ seeking the removal of the Scheduled Caste status of those who have converted from Hinduism to other religions.

    Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, however, said the rally was a “political show” backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

    “Religious conversions which were taking place on a large scale in Bastar, Surguja and Jashpur are now happening in the plain areas of the state as well. The Baghel government is doing nothing to stop it, which is emboldening those involved in such conversions,” former state minister and BJP leader Ramvichar Netam claimed.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Hitting back, Baghel said BJP leaders must “gherao” their nine Lok Sabha MPs from the state over this “delisting” demand.

    “They (BJP) did not raise this issue when their party was in power under Raman Singh. Delisting is a matter of the Centre and the state government has no say in it. The BJP is misleading people,” Baghel said.

  • 5-year-old girl mauled to death by stray dogs in Chhattisgarh

    By ANI

    KORIYA: A five-year-old girl died after she was attacked by stray dogs in Chhattisgarh’s Koriya district on Friday, the police said.

    The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday near Margdarshan School Road in Baikunthpur.

    According to police, Sukanti (5), the victim was attacked by stray dogs when she was going to attend nature’s call at around 6 am on Friday. In the attack, the victim suffered grievous injuries and died.

    “After receiving information about the incident, police rushed to the spot for undertaking an investigation at the crime scene. Prima-facie investigation hints that the victim might have died due to attacks by dogs,” said Station House Officer, Baikunthpur Kotwali police station Ashwani Singh.

    Police sent the body for autopsy. Further investigation is underway.

    KORIYA: A five-year-old girl died after she was attacked by stray dogs in Chhattisgarh’s Koriya district on Friday, the police said.

    The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday near Margdarshan School Road in Baikunthpur.

    According to police, Sukanti (5), the victim was attacked by stray dogs when she was going to attend nature’s call at around 6 am on Friday. In the attack, the victim suffered grievous injuries and died.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “After receiving information about the incident, police rushed to the spot for undertaking an investigation at the crime scene. Prima-facie investigation hints that the victim might have died due to attacks by dogs,” said Station House Officer, Baikunthpur Kotwali police station Ashwani Singh.

    Police sent the body for autopsy. Further investigation is underway.

  • BJP accuses Baghel of Muslim ‘appeasement’, Cong counters charge

    By Express News Service

    RAIPUR:  The BJP leaders in Chhattisgarh on Sunday termed the government circular on bus services for the convenience of fasting Muslim employees as “religious appeasement the Congress often practises”. 

    The official circular stated: “During the working days in Ramadan month till the Eid holiday, one separate bus will operate for the convenience of Muslim officers and staff from the secretariat and the directorate at new capital city Nava Raipur (some 25 km away from the Raipur city). Instead of the usual hour of departure, the bus carrying the Muslim employees will leave by 4:40 pm.”

    As the circular appeared on the public domain, the BJP leader and former minister Rajesh Munat shared it on his twitter handle with a remark that said “Bhupesh Baghel ji gives big lecture on Ganga-Jamuni Tahzeeb, but the Congress habitually plays the game of ‘religious appeasement”.

    “In this order, a special care has been taken for the Muslim officers-staff but remain silent on Navratri”, the BJP leader said. The ruling Congress was quick to counter. Congress spokesperson R P Singh retorted saying BJP leaders after losing the power in the state have lost their memory too.

    “To assist in their power to recall, let me remind them the similar official orders were issued during the Raman Singh government on the bus service in the years 2016, 2017 and 2018. Only the date and year have changed. The BJP in one of its orders in 2005 had given a relief to the Muslim staff to leave the office an hour before the scheduled time”, said Singh.

    The experts stated that in an election year, the opposition is often seen as preoccupied with such issues they believe will bring political dividends. 

    RAIPUR:  The BJP leaders in Chhattisgarh on Sunday termed the government circular on bus services for the convenience of fasting Muslim employees as “religious appeasement the Congress often practises”. 

    The official circular stated: “During the working days in Ramadan month till the Eid holiday, one separate bus will operate for the convenience of Muslim officers and staff from the secretariat and the directorate at new capital city Nava Raipur (some 25 km away from the Raipur city). Instead of the usual hour of departure, the bus carrying the Muslim employees will leave by 4:40 pm.”

    As the circular appeared on the public domain, the BJP leader and former minister Rajesh Munat shared it on his twitter handle with a remark that said “Bhupesh Baghel ji gives big lecture on Ganga-Jamuni Tahzeeb, but the Congress habitually plays the game of ‘religious appeasement”.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “In this order, a special care has been taken for the Muslim officers-staff but remain silent on Navratri”, the BJP leader said. The ruling Congress was quick to counter. Congress spokesperson R P Singh retorted saying BJP leaders after losing the power in the state have lost their memory too.

    “To assist in their power to recall, let me remind them the similar official orders were issued during the Raman Singh government on the bus service in the years 2016, 2017 and 2018. Only the date and year have changed. The BJP in one of its orders in 2005 had given a relief to the Muslim staff to leave the office an hour before the scheduled time”, said Singh.

    The experts stated that in an election year, the opposition is often seen as preoccupied with such issues they believe will bring political dividends. 

  • Chhattisgarh: Three Jawans killed in clash with Maoists in Sukma

    Express News Service

    RAIPUR: At least three security personnel were killed and two injured in an exchange of fire with the outlawed CPI (Maoist) in the strife-torn Sukma district, about 500 km south of Raipur on Saturday.

    According to the information reaching the state capital, a team of Sukma district reserve guards (DRG) were out on a search operation following a tip-off. While the forces were on their way from Jagargunda to Kunded forested terrain, the rebels opened indiscriminate firing which was retaliated by the forces.

    According to the sources, the team of security forces was trapped in an ambush laid by the suspected Red brigades. Many cadres of the Maoist were also believed to have been injured in the gunfight.

    The deceased included ASI Ramuram Nag and two constables Kunjam Joga and Ganjam Bheema.

    Following the gun battle, the security forces have further intensified the search operation in the region.

    Sukma is among the seven Maoist-affected districts in the conflict zone of the south Bastar range. 

    RAIPUR: At least three security personnel were killed and two injured in an exchange of fire with the outlawed CPI (Maoist) in the strife-torn Sukma district, about 500 km south of Raipur on Saturday.

    According to the information reaching the state capital, a team of Sukma district reserve guards (DRG) were out on a search operation following a tip-off. While the forces were on their way from Jagargunda to Kunded forested terrain, the rebels opened indiscriminate firing which was retaliated by the forces.

    According to the sources, the team of security forces was trapped in an ambush laid by the suspected Red brigades. Many cadres of the Maoist were also believed to have been injured in the gunfight.

    The deceased included ASI Ramuram Nag and two constables Kunjam Joga and Ganjam Bheema.

    Following the gun battle, the security forces have further intensified the search operation in the region.

    Sukma is among the seven Maoist-affected districts in the conflict zone of the south Bastar range. 

  • Raipur Diary: New Governor takes oath of office at Raj Bhavan

    Express News Service

    New Governor takes oath of office at Raj BhavanBiswabhushan Harichandan has taken oath as the ninth Governor of Chhattisgarh. Chief Justice Arup Kumar Goswami administered oath of office and secrecy to him at a ceremony in the Raj Bhavan on Thursday. Harichandan was the Governor of Andhra Pradesh from July 24, 2019 to February 22, 2023, before succeeding Anusuya Uikey, who is now the Governor of Manipur. Born in Odisha on August 3, 1934, Harichandan, a known litterateur and a recipient of the Kalinga Ratna award, was a five-time legislator in Odisha, representing Bhubaneswar and Chilka assembly seat. 

    State signs MoU with JSPL on solar power In a move towards augmenting renewable energy as an alternative source of power in remote areas, the Jindal group has entered into an agreement with the state government for setting up a solar power plant in Raigarh district, 230 km east of Raipur. The initial target is to produce 11,14,57,000 KWH units annually from the new 84.5 MW solar power plant. Over Rs 400 crore will be invested in the joint venture project. Commerce and Industry secretary Bhuvanesh Yadav and executive president, JSPL Pradeep Tandon signed the MoU. 

    State and Manila rice institute to work closelyNow, scientists and researchers in Chhattisgarh will have access to the experimentation and analysis facilities at International Rice Research Institute in Manila, Philippines. The state had discussions with the scientists at the institute about the new varieties of rice being developed and gained information about the modern technologies. The state shared about the government’s farmer-friendly policies and programmes which got appreciation. An expert team led by agriculture production commissioner Kamal Preet Singh observed that over 1,30,000 varieties of rice were stored at the institute’s rice germplasm collection.

    Ejaz KaiserOur correspondent in [email protected]

    New Governor takes oath of office at Raj Bhavan
    Biswabhushan Harichandan has taken oath as the ninth Governor of Chhattisgarh. Chief Justice Arup Kumar Goswami administered oath of office and secrecy to him at a ceremony in the Raj Bhavan on Thursday. Harichandan was the Governor of Andhra Pradesh from July 24, 2019 to February 22, 2023, before succeeding Anusuya Uikey, who is now the Governor of Manipur. Born in Odisha on August 3, 1934, Harichandan, a known litterateur and a recipient of the Kalinga Ratna award, was a five-time legislator in Odisha, representing Bhubaneswar and Chilka assembly seat. 

    State signs MoU with JSPL on solar power 
    In a move towards augmenting renewable energy as an alternative source of power in remote areas, the Jindal group has entered into an agreement with the state government for setting up a solar power plant in Raigarh district, 230 km east of Raipur. The initial target is to produce 11,14,57,000 KWH units annually from the new 84.5 MW solar power plant. Over Rs 400 crore will be invested in the joint venture project. Commerce and Industry secretary Bhuvanesh Yadav and executive president, JSPL Pradeep Tandon signed the MoU. 

    State and Manila rice institute to work closely
    Now, scientists and researchers in Chhattisgarh will have access to the experimentation and analysis facilities at International Rice Research Institute in Manila, Philippines. The state had discussions with the scientists at the institute about the new varieties of rice being developed and gained information about the modern technologies. The state shared about the government’s farmer-friendly policies and programmes which got appreciation. An expert team led by agriculture production commissioner Kamal Preet Singh observed that over 1,30,000 varieties of rice were stored at the institute’s rice germplasm collection.

    Ejaz Kaiser
    Our correspondent in Chhattisgarh
    [email protected]

  • Chhattisgarh: Teen held for abducting, raping, killing 8-year-old girl

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: A teen boy was held on Thursday for allegedly abducting, raping and murdering an 8-year-old girl in Raipur in Chhattisgarh, a police official said on Thursday.

    The girl had gone missing on December 7, after which a kidnapping case was registered at Vidhan Sabha police station, he said.

    Her body was found on a vacant plot in Saddu locality on December 13 and the post mortem report stated strangulation as the cause of death as well as the minor being sexually assaulted before the killing, said Raipur Senior Superintendent of Police Prashant Agrawal.

    “We have held a 14-year-old boy for abducting, raping and killing the girl. We had rounded him up for questioning based on leads from CCTV footage from the spot. During interrogation, he confessed to the crime,” the SSP said.

    He has been charged under Indian Penal Code sections 302 (murder), 363 (kidnapping), 376 (rape) and 201 (destruction of evidence) as well as relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the official said.

    RAIPUR: A teen boy was held on Thursday for allegedly abducting, raping and murdering an 8-year-old girl in Raipur in Chhattisgarh, a police official said on Thursday.

    The girl had gone missing on December 7, after which a kidnapping case was registered at Vidhan Sabha police station, he said.

    Her body was found on a vacant plot in Saddu locality on December 13 and the post mortem report stated strangulation as the cause of death as well as the minor being sexually assaulted before the killing, said Raipur Senior Superintendent of Police Prashant Agrawal.

    “We have held a 14-year-old boy for abducting, raping and killing the girl. We had rounded him up for questioning based on leads from CCTV footage from the spot. During interrogation, he confessed to the crime,” the SSP said.

    He has been charged under Indian Penal Code sections 302 (murder), 363 (kidnapping), 376 (rape) and 201 (destruction of evidence) as well as relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the official said.