A 34-year-old man was arrested in central Delhi after local residents allegedly caught him sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl in the Kishanganj area on Monday evening, police said.
The accused, identified as Ankit, was taken to the Shidipura police post by residents at around 6.30 pm. The child and her mother were also brought to the police post, where the residents reported the alleged incident to the authorities.
According to the police, residents alleged that they had caught Ankit while he was sexually assaulting the child. The accused was subsequently handed over to the police.
The incident triggered anger among local residents, several of whom gathered outside the police post and demanded action against the accused. According to Anandabazar, Ankit and his mother were allegedly assaulted by members of the crowd before police intervened and removed them from the spot.
Police subsequently took control of the situation and began investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault.
Child Sent for Medical Examination
The six-year-old girl was taken for a medical examination, while investigators inspected the location where the alleged incident took place and began collecting evidence.
Police said a case was being registered under relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Statements from the child and other witnesses are expected to form part of the investigation, along with the medical examination report.
Officials said the exact circumstances and sequence of events were still being investigated. The allegations against the accused will be subject to the ongoing legal process.
The incident has also renewed concerns over the safety of children and women in the national capital, with several cases involving alleged sexual offences against minors and young women reported in Delhi this month.
