Indore, Jun 30 (TOI): Mandsaur police on Friday arrested a second suspect for the horrific rape and torture of a seven-year-old girl, saying the duo had planned the crime for a long time, scanned schoolkids for days and had “chosen a small child who wouldn’t fight back”.

The second suspect, 24-year-old Asif of Mandsaur, is a close friend of accused Irfan, who is already in custody. The girl they brutalised is still fighting for her life in hospital after multiple surgeries to piece together her ripped intestines and stitch the slash on her throat.

Police said the culprits took time collecting the objects they penetrated the child after the rape. After allegedly cutting her throat, they had a drink as she lay bleeding.

The revelations came on a day when politicians got exposed for their insensitivity. As politicians made a beeline for her and posed with her family, BJP MLA Sudarshan Gupta told the grieving parents: “Saansad sahib ko dhanyavad deejiye, woh specially aap se milne yahan aaye hain (Thank the MP, he has come especially to meet you).”

Gupta blurted out these words when Mandsaur MP Sudhir Gupta was talking to the parents and they all paused for pictures. Realising that he had shot his mouth off, the MLA quickly added, “Let us know whatever you need…” The parents nodded blankly, involuntarily casting glances at a wall behind which their child lay in agony.