Kolkata, June 4 : A minor girl was allegedly murdered in Dinhata of Cooch Behar district in north Bengal, police said on Thursday, while her family has alleged rape and murder.

Her body was recovered from a jute field in the Bamanhat I Gram Panchayat area of â??â??Dinhata on Wednesday evening with a pair of leggings tied around her neck.

The villagers and the family of the deceased alleged that the minor girl was raped before she was murdered. Police, however, have confirmed homicide, but said that the allegation of rape will be verified only after the autopsy report is received.

According to family members, the minor left her home around 10 a.m. on Wednesday. She did not return home even after noon. They started searching for her. In the evening, the minor's body was recovered from a nearby jute field with leggings tied around her neck.

It is claimed that the minor was wearing those leggings at the time of her disappearance. It has been alleged that she was killed with the leggings she was wearing. Upon receiving the news of the recovery of the body, the Sahebganj police reached the spot, recovered the body, and sent it for autopsy.

After the autopsy, the body will be handed over to the family, police said.

An eyewitness told local media that the girl had been missing since the morning and her body was found when the family searched the area later in the day. The incident has triggered tension in the area. Police have launched a search for those involved in this incident.

"The body has been sent for autopsy. The allegation that she was raped will only be ascertained once the report arrives. A case under the murder section has been registered. Investigation is on to know more about the incident and who is involved in this," said a senior officer of Cooch Behar district police.

/IANS