Bhiwandi police arrest man for sexual assault of seven-year-old girl

An 18-year-old man was arrested in Bhiwandi taluka on Thursday evening for the alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of a seven-year-old girl, within two hours of a police complaint being filed. The Narpoli police team apprehended the suspect after launching a swift manhunt in the area.

On Thursday afternoon, the victim and her 10-year-old brother were playing outside their residential building when the suspect approached them. According to the police, the suspect lured the two children away with the promise of buying them snacks.

The suspect reportedly handed a Rs 50 note to the victim's brother, instructing him to buy a bottle of water. While the brother was away, the suspect allegedly dragged the seven-year-old girl to his nearby rented flat.

Inside the flat, the suspect allegedly tied up the girl, gagged her, and sexually assaulted her. The victim managed to return to her home later in the evening and narrated the ordeal to her parents.

Upon learning of the incident, the parents rushed to the Narpoli police station to register an official complaint.

Following the complaint, a dedicated police team was immediately established under the direct guidance of Deputy Commissioner of Police Pawan Bansod and Assistant Commissioner of Police Sachin Sangle. Led by Senior Police Inspector Vijay Kadbane, the team launched a massive manhunt to locate the suspect.

The police team successfully tracked down and arrested the fleeing suspect within two hours of the complaint being registered.

The suspect has been booked on charges of rape under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The seven-year-old victim was admitted to a sub-district hospital, where she is currently undergoing medical treatment.