18-month-old girl raped in outer Delhi, neighbour arrested

The incident took place around 9am when the girl had gone out of the house to play with the other children in the locality.

An 18-month-old girl was abducted and raped by her 33-year-old neighbour in outer Delhi’s Aman Vihar locality, police said on Thursday.

Aman Vihar is one of the most unsafe places for women in the city, according to police data. In 2016, there were 60 rape cases registered at the local police station – the highest in Delhi. (Representative Photo, Shutterstock)

The girl had to undergo an emergency operation for injuries suffered during the assault and, police said, there was no danger to her life.

A printing press employee, Rakesh, was arrested for the crime. According to the police, he confessed during interrogation.

The incident took place at around 9am on Wednesday, when the girl had stepped out of the house to play with the other children in the locality. An investigating officer said the girl’s mother found her outside about an hour later with her clothes dishevelled, bleeding and complaining of pain.

The mother rushed her to a hospital, where doctors informed the police. “We zeroed in on Rakesh after making enquiries in the locality. We also learnt he was missing from his house,” said deputy commissioner of police, outer Delhi, MN Tiwari.

“Based on the medical report and a statement from her family members, we registered a case of rape under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act,” he added.

If found guilty, Rakesh faces a minimum of seven years in prison, going up to a life sentence.

Aman Vihar is one of the most unsafe places for women in the city, according to police data. In 2016, there were 60 rape cases registered at the local police station – the highest in Delhi.