52-year-old held for assaulting two girls had abused another minor: Cops

The incident came to light when the parents of one of the survivors filed a complaint against the accused

The Kurar police found on Saturday that the 52-year-old man who was arrested on Wednesday for sexually assaulting two minor girls in Malad (East) had also assaulted another girl.

Suspecting that the accused may have targeted several other children in the neighbourhood, the police have urged local residents to step forward if the accused had assaulted them int the past. (HT File Photo)

Suspecting that the accused may have targeted several other children in the neighbourhood, the police have urged local residents to step forward if the accused had assaulted them int the past. An officer said the latest complainant stated that the accused had grabbed her hand and tried to take her to his house.

The incident came to light when the parents of one of the survivors filed a complaint against him.

According to the complainant, the accused lured the 12-year-old girl into his house and touched her inappropriately.

The police said the accused also sexually assaulted the other minor girl and warned her not to tell anyone about the incident.

After the parents approached the police, the Kurar police registered a case against the accused for the sexual assault of a minor under sections of Indian Penal Code and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

Priti Patkar, co-founder of NGO Prerana that works with survivors of sexual assault, said, “If survivors of sexual assault, especially children, do not speak out, their attackers are emboldened and continue to assault others because they believe they will get away with it. This pattern that we have observed is common when it comes to sexual abuse.”

Elderly man held for sexually assaulting 12-year-old girl in Mumbai