Four people, including three minors, have been apprehended in connection with the alleged gang-rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl in north Delhi's Swaroop Nagar, police said.

The victim's body was found on September 13 in an open field near Kushak Road. Police said she had sustained around six to eight stab wounds. A 19-year-old man, identified as Shivam Ganesh, has been arrested, while three minors aged 16 and 17 have been apprehended.

What police say happened

According to the preliminary investigation, the girl knew one of the suspects, a 17-year-old boy, and had gone to meet him on the evening of September 10.

Police said she was allegedly sexually assaulted and, after she threatened to report the incident, the suspect called his friends. The police investigation indicates that the girl was subsequently assaulted by the group and taken to a field in the early hours of September 11, where she was allegedly stabbed.

Investigators said the suspects attempted to conceal the body with leaves and mud before leaving the area in a tempo.

CCTV footage leads to suspects

Police teams examined more than 50 CCTV cameras after the girl's body was discovered. Investigators noticed a tempo moving near the field around the suspected time of the crime.

Although the vehicle's registration number was not clearly visible because of poor lighting, police tracked its movements across multiple CCTV cameras and reconstructed its route. The tempo was eventually traced to Khadda Colony in Swaroop Nagar.

Police questioned the tempo driver, who reportedly told investigators that his 17-year-old younger brother frequently used the vehicle. CCTV footage subsequently showed four young men inside the tempo, according to investigators.

Knives and clothing recovered

Police said two knives allegedly linked to the crime and clothing believed to have been worn by the suspects were recovered.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer North) Shobhit Saksena said investigators were working to establish the precise role of each apprehended person, reconstruct the sequence of events and examine forensic and technical evidence. Police are also investigating whether anyone else was involved.

A case relating to rape, murder and destruction of evidence has been registered based on the preliminary investigation and post-mortem findings.