The body of a minor girl was found hanging in a jungle near Badagaon in Sundargarh district on Wednesday morning.
The deceased belonged to Itma village under Badagaon Police limits. It is suspected that the minor girl was raped before being murdered.
Sources said the girl had left home with a local youth yesterday at noon. When the girl did not return till the evening, her parents searched everywhere and filed a missing complaint at the police station in the night.
On the basis of the complaint, the police searched in the jungle and found her body hanging from a tree. They detained the youth in this connection and questioned him. He has reportedly confessed to have left the girl in the jungle.
As per reports, two other youths were also with the deceased on Tuesday when she left home. They are reportedly absconding.
The police have identified the youths and have formed teams to nab them at the earliest.