Alipurduar, May 17 -- An alleged sexual assault on a one-and-a-half-year-old girl in the Jaigaon area of Alipurduar has sparked widespread outrage. Police arrested a 25-year-old neighbour in connection with the case and produced him before a court, which remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody.
The incident reportedly took place on Saturday evening in a slum area. The child's mother realised that her daughter was missing and began searching the neighbourhood. After failing to trace the child for a considerable time, she became suspicious and went to the house of the neighbour.
Sources said the mother found her daughter in a critical condition inside the house and immediately rescued her, raising an alarm. Hearing her screams, local residents rushed to the spot. Sensing tension in the area, the accused allegedly fled from the locality.
The victim's family later lodged a written complaint at Jaigaon Police Station. Acting swiftly, police launched a search operation and, based on a tip-off, arrested the absconding accused from a forest area in Jaigaon. Police have registered a case against the accused under Section 6 of the POCSO Act. When produced before the Alipurduar District Court on Sunday, the court ordered 14 days of judicial custody.
The incident has sparked widespread anger in the locality, with residents demanding strict punishment for the accused.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.