The body of a 10-year-old girl who came to visit her grandparents in Murshidabad district from Delhi was recovered from a neighbour’s house in a sack on Sunday afternoon, sending ripples of shock in the area.

Family members of the dead child suspect a heinous sexual crime.

Family members have accused a neighbour of rape and murder of the girl, as well as an attempt to dispose of the body before anyone could discover it.

Police have arrested the neighbour, 40-year-old Dinu Haldar, and filed a murder case, for now, following a complaint by the girl’s father.

However, police have not yet determined the exact cause of death.

“We have initiated a murder case based on a complaint lodged by the girl’s father and sent the body for an autopsy. The exact cause of death will be confirmed once the autopsy is completed on Monday,” said a police official involved in the case.

According to local sources, the minor, who lived in Delhi, had arrived in Murshidabad with her parents three days ago for Durga Puja.

On Sunday morning, she left for a nearby Puja venue around 9am, but failed to return home for lunch, prompting her family to launch a search by midday.

After an extensive search, her body was found concealed in a sack inside Halder’s home. Angry neighbours, suspecting his direct involvement, alerted the police, who arrested him.

“We discovered the girl’s unclothed body inside the sack, tied up with rope. It seemed like someone was preparing to dump it and erase evidence. It seems evident that the child was raped and killed,” said one of the neighbours.

The girl’s father, overwhelmed with grief, claimed the neighbour had likely lured her with malicious intent.

“He raped my daughter and later silenced her forever,” he said.

Senior police officers refrained from divulging details before the autopsy.

“The initial inquest and evidence suggest murder. We are awaiting the autopsy report to confirm the cause of death. The suspect is being interrogated,” said an officer.