AZAMGARH: An 8-year-old girl was reportedly raped and then strangulated allegedly by her 22-year-old neighbour in Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh district.

The accused Laxman has been taken into custody on suspicion.

According to Azamgarh SP Anurag Arya, following an initial investigation, the police found that the accused, who resides in the same village as the minor girl's home but approximately 100 metres away, had taken the child to a remote area on the pretence of giving her some toffees. The accused strangled the young girl after raping her.

Laxman, who works at a nearby flour mill, was found to be a drug addict over the course of the investigation, he said.

The girl's family members started looking for her after she didn't come home, and her body was eventually discovered in a remote location.

To conduct the investigation, a police team led by DIG Azamgarh range Akhilesh Kumar and the SP arrived at the scene alongside forensic specialists. The specific cause of death will be determined by the post-mortem investigation, said  the SP.

The SP said that Laxman was detained on suspicion of rape and murder and adding that, "The exact cause of death will be determined once the postmortem report arrives." He said that during the investigation it was found that Laxman, who works at a nearby flour mill, is a drug addict.

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