The murder of a 14-year-old girl in Malda on Friday sparked tension and prompted a section of residents to set up a blockade on a state highway, demanding exemplary punishment for the accused.

Police have arrested a youth and initiated a probe.

Sources said the girl and her 10-year-old brother were alone in their house in Bulbulchandi Bazar under Habibpur police station. Their parents had gone to Agra-Harishchandrapur to sell ice cream at a rural fair.

“Around 12am, we heard a sound of stone being pelted on the tin roof of our house. My sister woke up and went out to check whether someone was around and asked me to stay in my room. Suddenly, someone locked the room from outside,” the victim’s brother said.

After around one-and-half hours, when some neighbours opened the door, he found his sister lying dead on the verandah, the boy said.

Some civic volunteers spotted Chandan Singh, a 22-year-old youth from nearby Soladanga village, loitering in the same area soon after the murder.

The civic volunteers gave him a chase and handed him over to the police.

“During interrogation, Chandan admitted that he strangulated the girl. He claimed that they had an affair for around two years and had recently broken up. They were having problems and he murdered her,” said a police officer.

As the news spread, relatives and neighbours of the girl set up a blockade at the Malda-Nalagola state highway. The police reached the spot and managed to disperse them and clear the road within two hours.

“A case has been registered. Our officers are gathering more information about the incident,” the officer added.

Killer son

Jagabandhu Barman, 59, a resident of Patlakhawa in Alipurduar district, was hacked to death by his son Bablu on Thursday night.

The police said the accused used to abuse his family members. On Thursday night, Jagabandhu protested against his son’s behaviour, prompting Bablu to attack him with a sharp weapon. The neighbours rushed him to the local health centre where he was declared brought dead. Bablu has been arrested.

Additional reporting by Our Alipurduar Correspondent