Patna, January 10: Days after she went missing, the mutilated body of a 13-year-old girl was found in Bihar's Gaya on January 6. The girl was found beheaded and her face burnt with acid, after which protests erupted in Gaya. While the victim's family alleged rape and inaction by the police, cops claimed it was a case of dishonour killing.

The girl had gone missing on December 28. The family suspected to be a case of elopement and started a search. After two days, they went to file a missing complaint. "We waited for two days to check on other relatives and friends. It is quite a trend here that girls elope with their male friends to get married. But eventually, they (eloped couples) return. We did not negate that possibility," a close relative of the victim told a news portal. Minor Allegedly Raped by Religious Leader; She is Possessed by Evil Spirit, Say Rajasthan Police.

Two days after the girl's disappearance, the family approached the police. They alleged that cops at Buniyadganj police station had refused to take their complaint, suspecting it to be a case of elopement. They claimed an FIR was lodged on January 4 after local media's intervention. The police, however, denied all charges and said it is a case of dishonour killing.

According to Rajiv Mishra, a senior police officer in Gaya, the girl had returned home on December 31. "Her father sent her with a man known to the family at around 10 the same night. Later, she was found beheaded," Mishra told NDTV. The man was detained and the police are waiting for the autopsy report to see if the teenager was raped.

Locals staged protests on Tuesday and Wednesday, demanding a speedy probe into the murder.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 10, 2019 02:34 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).