Lucknow rape accused killed in encounter, 3-year-old survivor critical

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A three-year-old girl, brutally raped after being abducted while sleeping beside her mother under a bridge near Alambagh metro station, is battling for her life in hospital. The accused, Deepak Verma, a habitual offender with multiple criminal cases, was shot dead in an encounter with Lucknow police early Friday, TOI reported.

The horrific crime unfolded in the early hours of Thursday when Verma allegedly snatched the child from her mother’s side and fled on a white scooter around 3.30 am. The abduction was captured on CCTV, which helped police track him down.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Zone) Ashish Srivastava told TOI that multiple police teams were formed immediately after the incident and a reward of Rs 1 lakh was announced for information leading to Verma’s arrest. Acting on a tip-off and the scooter’s registration details, police intercepted him near Devi Kheda in Cantonment.

“When asked to surrender, he opened fire at the police team. In retaliatory firing, he sustained injuries,” Srivastava was quoted as saying by TOI. Verma was rushed to hospital but declared dead on arrival.

The crime came to light when a disabled passerby heard the girl’s screams about 500 metres from where she was taken and alerted her family. TOI quoted victim’s relatives recounting, “After completing the work, we slept. Late at night on Wednesday, someone took the girl away. At 4 am on Thursday, an old man woke us up and then we came to know about the incident.”

Police registered a case under rape and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act), 2012.

Meanwhile, the toddler, who suffered severe injuries to her private parts, remains in a critical condition at Lokbandhu Hospital. Doctors confirmed she lost significant blood and will require plastic surgery.

Dr Rajiv Dixit, medical superintendent, said the child had a deep wound and bled profusely. A team of specialists, including gynaecologists, paediatricians and surgeons, is overseeing her treatment at KGMU Trauma Centre, TOI reported.