KOCHI: The state police chief said there was no lapse on the part of the police in connection with the tragic murder of a five-year-old girl in Aluva. "There was no failure in tracing the accused. During the initial investigation, the accused was identified and taken into custody. An attempt was also made to find the child whom he kidnapped", the DGP said. DGP Sheikh Darvesh Sahib said that necessary steps are being taken and further steps will be taken after the post-mortem report.

Despite the availability of CCTV footage of accused Asfaq Alam walking with the murdered child, there is criticism that the police did not conduct an efficient search. It is alleged that the Aluva market where the body was found was not inspected in time. Meanwhile, the initial post-mortem report says that the child was brutally abused and strangled to death. There are serious injuries on the child's body, including private parts.

Asfaq Alam, a native of Assam, kidnapped the murdered five-year-old girl yesterday. The child's parents, natives of Bihar, came to know about the child's disappearance when they returned from work in the evening. Later a complaint was lodged with the police. When the CCTV was checked, the accused was seen crossing a railway gate with the child, reaching the national highway and boarding a bus bound for Thrissur. On the basis of CCTV footage, the accused Asfaq was arrested from Aluva's Thottakkattukara.