A three-year-old daughter of a migrant labourer was allegedly raped by their landlord in a residential colony on the outskirts of Patiala under the Bakshiwala police station on Thursday.
The accused, identified as Surinder Kumar, was arrested on Friday afternoon.
The victim’s family had migrated from Bihar and is residing in a rented accommodation at Surinder’s house. The accused, who is married and has three children, works as a daily wager and is reportedly a drug addict, police said.
The matter came to light late on Thursday evening when the victim’s mother, who works as a domestic help, came home. The victim told her mother that she felt severe pain in her stomach and private parts.
“The girl fainted twice,” victim’s mother said. When she inquired from her elder children, they informed her that the accused took her to his room on Thursday afternoon and allegedly sexually assaulted her.
The victim’s mother immediately raised alarm following which the accused fled the spot. The area residents informed the police, which later took the victim to Government Rajindra Hospital for a medical examination.
Police said the initial report confirmed sexual assault on the victim, following which a case was registered against the accused under Section 376 (rape) of IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
{{/usCountry}}Police said the initial report confirmed sexual assault on the victim, following which a case was registered against the accused under Section 376 (rape) of IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
{{/usCountry}}Superintendent of police (SP-investigations) Harwinder Singh Virk said the accused was arrested on Friday afternoon when he was trying to flee the city.
He added that they are trying to find out if the accused was under the influence of some intoxicant when the crime was committed.