Neighbour booked for rape bid on 10-year-old

PATIALA: Police here have booked a man for molesting and attempting to rape a 10-year-old girl. They have also added sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against the accused.

Police said the accused was nabbed after conducting raids at his house and many other places on Sunday. They added that the accused has been identified as the girl's neighbour. The girl's father who was the complainant in the case said the accused attacked his daughter when she was alone at her house while her family members were away at work.

The police said medical examination of the girl had been conducted and the reports of the same are awaited. The accused was sent to 14-day judicial custody after he was presented before the local court here.

Sources in police said, "We have registered the case against the accused and nabbed him on Sunday after getting the complaint from the girl's father. The complainant revealed that the accused worked as a labourer and was known to him but on Saturday he entered the house and attempted to abuse the girl sexually."

Cops added that the girl is a student of Class V in government school. We inquired from the girl too. As per the rules, members of child protection committee will hold a counselling session with her. The possibility of rape can be ascertained only after the reports of the medical examination are produced.