Posing as prospective tenant, man rapes 11-yr-old in Chandigarh

An unidentified man looking for rented accommodation allegedly raped a home alone 11-year-old girl in Sector 25 on Monday morning.

The victim’s parents, who work as domestic helps, approached the police with a complaint, stating that their schoolgoing daughter was alone at home on Monday morning, when a man came looking for a room on rent.

Investigating officer sub-inspector Sarita Roy said, “The victim has alleged that the man forced himself inside her house, and gagged her with his hand to stop her from screaming. She soon lost consciousness, and on waking up found her clothes torn.”

Roy said the victim alleged that the same man had visited her house a month ago as well, again asking for rented accommodation, and she had once also caught him peeking into their washroom when she was taking a bath.

She can identify the accused, but doesn’t know his name, the cop said.

Acting on the child’s statement, police have registered a case under Section 376 (rape), 352 (assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code, and Section 6 (aggravated penetrative sexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.