The Kharghar police have arrested a 23-year-old man for raping and attempting to kill an eight-year-old girl. The accused, identified as Jaan Anwar Alam, is a resident of Khopoli.
The accused was known to the victim’s family as he previously lived next to their house in Owe village in Kharghar. The accused shifted to Khopoli a month ago after he secured a job in a private company.
On Thursday at around 9 a.m., the accused visited his friends with whom he stayed in Kharghar. Later, he visited the victim’s house and found that her mother, who works as a maid, and her father, who is a labourer, had left for work. The victim was playing with her 11-year-old brother.
Home alone
Police Sub Inspector Seema Munde from Kharghar Police Station said, “The accused knew the family members of the victim and he was a regular visitor at their house. The victim, a Class I student, and her brother were at home as schools were closed for Ganeshotsav. When the accused saw that her brother stepped out of the house, he knocked on the door. The victim opened the door for him as she knew him.”
Victim identifies accused
The accused raped the victim and strangled her when she shouted for help. The accused fled from the house when the girl fell unconscious. The victim’s brother found her unconscious when he returned home after playing with his friends. He immediately alerted his neighbours and called his parents.
The victim was taken to hospital where she identified the accused soon after she regained consciousness. Ms. Munde said, “We made her undergo a medical examination and registered a FIR against the accused. We traced the accused’s house in Khopoli and nabbed him from there at 10 p.m.”
The accused has been arrested under Section 307 of the IPC for attempt to murder and sections of the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences Act. Alam was presented before the Alibaug court on Friday and remanded in police custody till September 8.