Jaipur: Tension gripped the Paloda area of Banswara on Sunday morning after a 12-year-old girl was found murdered in her home while her family was away working in the fields. Villagers alleged that robbers broke in, slit her throat, and ransacked the house while she was alone.
The victim, identified as Jahnvi Patidar, was discovered lifeless by her family when they returned home around 10:30 a.m. According to reports, her jewelry was missing, fueling suspicions of a robbery-turned-murder. Outraged by the incident, locals took to the streets, burning tires and demanding immediate action against the culprits.
Jahnvi, a Class 4 student and daughter of Lalji Patidar, was at home with her five-year-old brother before the tragedy unfolded. Their mother had briefly returned around 7 a.m. to cook before leaving again for the fields, taking the younger sibling with her and leaving Jahnvi alone.
When the family came back, they found Jahnvi unresponsive and lying in a pool of blood. As word of the crime spread, villagers gathered in large numbers, leading to protests. Police forces from three nearby stations were deployed to maintain order.
Lohariya police station SHO Shishupal Singh stated that the girl’s body was found in the kitchen. “While the family has reported missing jewelry, we are yet to verify if a robbery actually took place. Protesters have so far prevented us from conducting a postmortem, which is crucial for determining the cause of death,” he said. Officials noted that no other valuables from the house were reported missing.
The murder, believed to have occurred between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., has left the community in shock. Authorities continue to urge cooperation in the investigation, as tensions remain high in the area.
