Unidentified people allegedly raped and murdered a 14-year-old girl in Maharashtra’s Thane district on Thursday, reported PTI. The incident took place in Mankoli village near Bhiwandi.

The accused entered the girl’s house when she was alone and raped her, DNA quoted Thane police officer Sukhada Narkar as saying on Friday. They then reportedly beat her up and drowned her in a water tub.

Her elder sister found her dead in a tub of water after she returned home in the evening. The family registered a police complaint at the Narpoli police station after the girls’ parents reached home.

Narkar said it was unclear how many people had entered the home. The police have launched a search operation to catch the accused.

In February, three men were arrested for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl in Bhiwandi. According to a complaint filed with the police, the men had barged into the teenager’s house when she was alone. While one of them allegedly assaulted her, the others kept watch outside.