Dehradun, November 28
The Uttarakhand Police today arrested three persons for allegedly raping and murdering a seven-year-old girl. The prime accused, Akhtar Ali, was arrested from Ludhiana and his two accomplices — Prem Lal, and Mausikhi Masih — were nabbed from Haldwani, Nainital.

ADGP (Law and Order) Ram Singh Meena said after consuming liquor, the trio lured the girl with a toffee from outside the banquet hall in Haldwani. They then took her to a forest area and raped and killed her.

Meena said the investigating team raided several places in UP, Delhi, Punjab and Haryana. He said Akhtar Ali, a truck driver and native of Bihar, had been missing from Haldwani after the incident. He said Ali was in touch with Prem Lal, and Mausikhi. The police traced his mobile phone location to Delhi and later caught him from Ludhiana. The trio has admitted to committing rape and murder.