Ludhiana, March 15 -- The local police arrested a mason on rape and murder charges, less than 24 hours after a 16-year-old girl's naked body with its mouth gagged was found next to a railway crossing near Alaud village, officials said.

According to police, the accused raped the girl after taking her to fields when she resisted, he smashed her head against the railway line and strangled her to death. The accused later dumped the body in the field, the officials said.

The minor hailed from Iqbal Nagar in Mandi Gobindgarh and was missing since March 11, they added.

Police identified the accused as Sanjeet Kumar, 26, from Mandi Gobindgarh. He is married and has two children. According to police, the accused befriended the victim 10 days be...