The body of a 13-year-old tribal girl, who was allegedly gangraped and murdered in Sahibganj last week, was exhumed by district police on Tuesday for examination.

Four people were also detained later in the day for questioning.

Police said that the victim’s family buried the body on Sunday after it was recovered on Saturday from their neighbourhood.

The police weren't informed allegedly under pressure from the village panchayat. Unconfirmed reports, however, suggested that local Ranga police didn’t lodge an FIR when the victim’s parents had initially approached them on Saturday to complain of rape and murder. They were asked to settle the matter with the panchayat.

The incident occurred in Lakhipur village under Pathna block, which falls under chief minister Hemant Soren’s assembly constituency in Barhait.

As the news broke, BJP went on offensive against the state government over rising instances of crime against women and children in Santhal Parganas and elsewhere.

The state BJP unit also formally issued an appeal to Jharkhand governor Droupadi Murmu seeking her intervention in the falling law and order situtaion in the state, while the party’s Ranchi unit held a candle light protest at the capital’s Albert Ekka chowk at night.

Sahibganj SP Anuranjan Kispotta talking has denied police negligence. He said they have lodged an FIR on the basis of a statement by the victim’s friend and sent a team to Lakhipur village, around 30km from district headquarters, to exhume the body for medical test.

“The victim, along with her friend, had gone to Taljhari village on Wednesday last week to meet their boyfriends. They stayed there for two days. While returning on Friday (October 9), a few young men apprehended them. On Saturday (October 10), the victim’s body was found abandoned near an under construction house, few meters away from her residence in Lakhipur village,” Kispotta said.

He added that soon after they learnt about the incident on Monday evening, a team was sent to the village and on Tuesday, a special team was set up under a magistrate to exhume the body to conduct logical probe and book culprits.

“An FIR has been lodged on the basis of the statement from victim’s friend who said that she had escaped when some youths apprehended them on Friday. We have detained four persons for questioning. Further investigation is on,” he said, adding that the panchayat and local police's roled will also be probed.

On the other hand, BJP’ Babulal Marandi claimed that the victim’s parents had gone to Ranga police station to file a complaint but were made to return asking them to sort out the issue in Panchayat. “After getting no help from anywhere, they buried the body. The role of police is questionable,” he said.

State BJP president Deepak Prakash demanded the governor to intervene. “The girl’s father in his statement has clearly stated that his daughter was raped and killed; still the police didn't file an FIR. Not just Barhait (CM’s constituency), but entire Santhal Parganas and Jharkhand are shocked over the incident which once again exposes that women and children aren’t safe anymore,” he said.