The 10-year-old injured girl, who was recovered along with the dead body of a 12-year-old girl from the forest area in Bachra under Piparwar police station in Chatra district on Thursday, died on her way to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi.

The death of the second girl, who residents believe was also the victim of sexual assault, triggered massive protests outside Piparwar police station on Friday.

“When local residents got the news of the girl’s death around 5 on Friday morning, they set out for Piparwar police station and staged a demonstration demanding capital punishment for those involved in the crime. The district administration had to deploy forces meant for election duty to bring the situation under control,” one of the residents said.

Deputy commissioner of Chatra Jitendra Kumar Singh confirmed said the situation was under control.

“The death of the second girl spurred protests, but it’s not so serious. Situation is under control,” Singh said.

Prodded for more details, he said police had started an investigation and directed the questions to superintendent of police (SP) Akhilesh B. Veriar.

“I am busy in sealing the strongroom. It will be better if you talk to the SP,” Singh said.

SP Veriar could not be contacted on his mobile despite four attempts between 4.15pm and 4.41pm on Friday.

Human rights activist, Runa Shukla, told The Telegraph that another eight-year-old boy was also found in an injured condition a few metres away from the spot where the girls were found lying.

“He is undergoing treatment at RIMS,” Shukla said.

She said the boy along with her 12-year-old sister and her friend went to the forest on his cycle to collect wood and fruits around 10am on December 11.

“On their way back, Sonu, 18, and his two friends asked him to go deep into the forest for better fruits. Leaving his cycle with the two girls, the boy went to forest. When he came back, Sonu hit him and took the girls into the forest,” Shukla said, adding that the boy was found 7am on Thursday while the girls were found in the afternoon.