Gorakhpur, UP: A police constable arrested for the alleged abduction and murder of a 10-year-old girl was assaulted by doctors, nurses and other hospital employees when he was brought to the district hospital for a medical examination on Thursday, police said.

The accused, Abhishek Yadav (35), who was posted with Dial-112 in Gorakhpur, was taken to the hospital at around 2:30 pm. According to officials, hospital staff recognised him and allegedly chased and assaulted him before police personnel intervened and escorted him to safety.

Investigators said the victim had visited the district hospital on July 28 to deliver food to her elder sister, who was undergoing treatment there.

Police said CCTV footage showed Yadav, dressed in police uniform, approaching the child outside the hospital, speaking to her and then taking her away on his motorcycle.

According to the investigation, the constable allegedly lured the girl by offering to drop her home before taking her nearly 15 kilometres away to a cremation ground. Police suspect the child may have been sexually assaulted before being killed.

The girl's body was recovered from a river on Thursday morning after the accused allegedly led investigators to the location.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kaustubh said investigators reviewed more than 200 CCTV clips during the probe.

He said Yadav, a 2018-batch constable, allegedly confessed to the crime during interrogation.

Police have recommended his dismissal from service and said proceedings under the National Security Act (NSA) will also be initiated against him.

Officials further said Yadav had previously been suspended and jailed in 2025 in connection with a molestation case involving a woman from West Bengal before being reinstated later that year.