An eight-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a security guard inside a restroom at an office building in broad daylight in Mumbai on Sunday.
According to the police, the accused, identified as Parvez, had been working for a courier company for the past six months. The assault allegedly took place inside a restroom on the company's premises.
Police said Parvez was allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. A local resident reportedly spotted him with the girl, following which he was overpowered by residents and the child's mother before being taken to the police station and handed over to the police.
According to the Mumbai Police, the incident sparked widespread outrage, with hundreds of residents gathering outside the police station in the Pydhonie area to demand the strictest punishment for the accused, who is originally from Jharkhand.
The child was rushed to a hospital for treatment, and the accused was arrested soon after a complaint was lodged.
As protests intensified on Sunday, some demonstrators also surrounded the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker
Rahul Narwekar when he visited the police station after learning about the incident. They raised slogans demanding strict action against the accused.
The protesters blocked the road outside the police station, disrupting traffic before the police restored normal movement.
In a post on X, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar described the assault as an "outrageous and extremely serious" incident. He said it came soon after a 65-year-old man was sentenced to death in Pune district for the rape and murder of a toddler.
Pawar said the absence of swift justice in such cases had weakened the law's deterrent effect. He called for the speedy disposal of such trials and the immediate implementation of the Shakti Act, which provides stringent punishment for crimes against women and children.
The Opposition MLA said he had raised the demand during the recently concluded legislature session and urged the government to act, while praying for the girl's speedy recovery.
