SSP Anand Swaroop said that a case has been registered against eight persons in this connection. Assistant Safety Commissioner G S Sodhi ordered Rai’s suspension and a detailed inquiry into the case.

The other arrested include contractor Amar Singh and vendors Pappu and Lambu, said Satyendra Yadav, RPF in-charge at Kanpur Central Railway Station.

The postmortem report of Sonal (name changed), the deceased, which arrived on Saturday, confirmed rape and severe head injury as the cause of death. Reportedly, Sonal and her younger brother were alone in their hut outside the railway station, when over six persons, including RPF constables Vinay Rai, Manoj Rai and J P Yadav, vendors Pappu and Lambu and contractor Amar Singh, barged into the house. After beating her up, all took turns to rape Sonal. She was repeatedly struck on the head with bricks, which led to her death.

The victim’s father, Rajesh Keshari, a resident of Sasaram in Bihar, is a food vendor. He lived with wife Sarita, daughter Sonal and sons Vikas and Vivek. About three months ago, Rajesh was arrested on charges of theft in station premises. He is at present lodged at the Naini Jail.

Sarita told The Sunday Express that she had gone to New Delhi to seek financial help from her relatives in order to deposit the security against the release of her husband.

“When Sonal tried to raise an alarm, she was killed,” she said. Sarita added that when she returned home on Friday night, she found Sonal lying in pool of blood.

“I immediately rushed her to Ursala Hospital, where she was declared ‘dead on arrival’,” she added. Sarita further alleged that Vinay had arrested Rajesh under fake theft charges and had also molested her on several occasions.