Dibrugarh, Aug. 10 -- An eight-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered in broad daylight on Friday while collecting firewood in a small tea garden at Kachari Pathar under Namrup police station in Assam's Dibrugarh district.

Police said the accused, identified as Jiten Lohar (40-45), was fishing nearby when he saw the minor alone in a small tea garden reportedly owned by Harikanta Bodo.

He allegedly raped her, killed her by smothering, and concealed the body in a drain, covering it with hay and grass.

When the girl failed to return home, her parents, along with neighbours, began searching for her.

The local villagers, on being told that Lohar was spotted near the garden at the time, confronted him. On being questioned, Jiten Loh...