A Community's Cry for Justice: The Tragic Kidnapping and Murder of a Five-Year-Old in Chandigarh

A pall of sorrow and outrage hangs heavy over Chandigarh's Ramdarbar area following the horrific kidnapping and murder of five-year-old Divyanshi. The community, still grappling with the senseless loss, has united with the grieving family in a fervent plea for swift justice, demanding a fast-track trial for the accused.

The tragedy unfolded in October 2023, when little Divyanshi, the youngest of three children to Sanjay and Pooja Gupta, vanished while playing innocently outside her home.

Her father, Sanjay, a humble grocery shop owner, and homemaker mother Pooja, were plunged into an unimaginable nightmare. Their search for their beloved daughter ended in heartbreak when her lifeless body was discovered in a gunny bag, dumped near a drain in Sector 31-D, a discovery that sent shockwaves through the entire city.

Police investigations quickly led to the arrest of 20-year-old Sukhdev Singh, alias Sukha, a resident of Sector 31 and, horrifyingly, a neighbour who lived just a stone's throw from Divyanshi's home.

The initial motive, as revealed by the police, was chilling: an alleged attempt to extort money from the Gupta family. Sukha, reportedly aware of the family's plans to sell a property, had hoped to capitalize on their expected financial gain.

The details of the crime are deeply disturbing. According to police reports, Sukha lured Divyanshi into his room, where he brutally bound her hands, stuffed cloth into her mouth, and suffocated her.

It's believed the extortion demand was made only after the child had already been murdered, a horrific detail that underscores the callousness of the act. He then disposed of her body, believing his crime would remain hidden.

The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and a powerful demand for accountability.

The Gupta family, shattered by their loss, has voiced their anguish and determination for justice. "We want nothing less than a fast-track trial and the harshest possible punishment for the perpetrator," stated a family member, their voice laced with pain and resolve. This sentiment is echoed by countless residents of Ramdarbar and across Chandigarh, who have organized candlelight marches and protests, transforming their grief into a collective voice for change.

Authorities have registered a case against Sukha under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Sections 302 (murder), 363 (kidnapping), 364 (kidnapping or abducting in order to murder), 342 (wrongful confinement), and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence).

The accused has since been produced in court and remanded to judicial custody, as the legal process begins its course.

As the community mourns Divyanshi and supports her devastated family, the focus remains firmly on the pursuit of justice. The demand for a swift and decisive trial is not merely for the Guptas but serves as a desperate plea from an entire city that such an egregious act should never go unpunished, and that every child deserves to be safe.