Jaipur rape accused, a psychopath with history of crime, arrested

The accused, identified as Sikandar alias Jivanu (35), was arrested from Kota when he attempted to meet an acquaintance, a tea-stall owner, in Bhimganj Mandi area upon running out of money, Jaipur Police Commissioner Anand Srivastava told The Indian Express.

According to the police, Sikandar also confessed to abducting and raping a four-year-old in the same area on June 22, as suspected.

Srivastava said the accused had raped and murdered an 11-year-old boy in January 2004 and was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Released in 2015, he committed a few thefts and burglaries.

"On November 2017, the accused was caught molesting two minor girls. When the police were informed, he assaulted an assistant sub-inspector. He was later arrested from Ajmer but jumped custody," Srivastava added.

Srivastava told The Hindu the CCTV obtained from the crime scene wasn't of much help, so they relied on criminal informants for the investigation.

They set up 12 police teams to conduct searches in different areas across Rajasthan and reportedly, found clues that Sikandar was holed-up in Kota.

Further, he said the accused had no family and was a "drifter," complicating the investigation.

The minor's rape had triggered violent protests across Jaipur as the incident started to take a communal color.

A mob demanding the accused's arrest pelted stones at homes and damaged over 60 vehicles. When the police intervened, the mob clashed with officials.

Consequently, the internet was temporarily suspended in various regions to prevent fake news from spreading out and inciting more violence.