Gurugram: 3-Year-Old Raped, Strangled by Neighbor; Accused Arrested
A three-and-a-half-year-old girl was allegedly raped and strangled to death by her neighbor in Gurugram, Sector 37. The child's body was later recovered from a shallow pit. Police swiftly arrested the 25-year-old accused, Shivnath, based on CCTV footage and his confession.
Key Highlights
- Three-year-old girl raped and murdered in Gurugram.
- Neighbor, Shivnath, arrested for the heinous crime.
- Victim lured away, assaulted, and strangled to death.
- Body buried in a shallow pit near an industrial area.
- CCTV footage and confession aided police in arrest.
- Accused booked under murder and POCSO Act sections.
In a deeply disturbing incident that has shaken Gurugram, a three-and-a-half-year-old girl was allegedly raped and then brutally strangled to death by her neighbor. The horrific crime occurred on Thursday evening, February 19, 2026, within the jurisdiction of Gurugram's Sector 37 police station. The victim's parents filed a missing person's report around 12:15 AM on Friday, February 20, 2026, after their daughter did not return home.
Police investigations quickly led to the arrest of the accused, identified as 25-year-old Shivnath, a native of Bihar who worked at a manufacturing firm or scrap factory in Sector 37. Shivnath resided in the same building as the victim and her family, and he would often play with the child. According to Gurugram Police Public Relations Officer Sandeep Turan, the accused lured the girl away from her neighborhood between 7 PM and 7:15 PM on Thursday.
Investigators revealed that Shivnath took the child approximately four kilometers away to an empty plot near the industrial area of Sector 37. There, he allegedly raped her and then strangled her to death in an attempt to destroy evidence. Following the murder, he dug a shallow pit and buried the child's body before fleeing the scene.
The discovery of the crime and the apprehension of the suspect unfolded rapidly. Crucial evidence emerged from CCTV cameras, which captured the accused taking the girl away. Based on the father's complaint and the visual evidence, the Sector 37 police team took Shivnath into custody the same night. During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the heinous crime, detailing how he had lured, raped, and then murdered the child.
Acting on Shivnath's confession, police were able to recover the girl's body from the shallow pit around 2 AM on Friday. Forensic experts were called to the spot to collect evidence, further solidifying the case against the accused. Shivnath has been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including 103(1) for murder, and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, pertaining to aggravated penetrative sexual assault.
The swift action by the Gurugram Police in apprehending the accused has been highlighted by various news outlets. This tragic event underscores persistent concerns regarding child safety in residential areas and the urgent need for heightened vigilance and robust legal action against perpetrators of such crimes. The incident has drawn widespread attention and condemnation across India.
Multiple credible Indian news sources, including Hindustan Times, Times Now, Deccan Herald, ETV Bharat, NewsX, The Federal, The Observer Post, and News9live, have extensively corroborated the details of this incident, reporting consistently on the victim's age, the nature of the crime, the arrest of the neighbor, and the location of the incident. The consistent reporting from these reputable outlets confirms the accuracy of the major claims in the original Times of India article.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in Gurugram?
A three-and-a-half-year-old girl was allegedly raped and strangled to death by her neighbor in Gurugram, Sector 37. Her body was later found buried in a shallow pit.
Who is the accused in this case?
The accused has been identified as Shivnath, a 25-year-old neighbor of the victim, who lived in the same building and worked at a local factory.
When did the incident occur and when was the arrest made?
The incident took place on the evening of Thursday, February 19, 2026. The victim's parents filed a missing report around midnight, and the accused was arrested the same night, with the body recovered in the early hours of February 20, 2026.
What charges have been filed against the accused?
The accused, Shivnath, has been booked under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (for murder) and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act (for aggravated penetrative sexual assault).
How was the accused identified and apprehended?
The accused was identified through CCTV footage that showed him taking the girl away. He was taken into custody by the Sector 37 police team and confessed to the crime during interrogation.