Man held for raping 7-year-old child

A man allegedly sexually assaulted a colleague's seven-year-old daughter in northeast Delhi on Thursday. The accused, who had fled to Meerut, was nabbed following a raid on the same day.

Police said the accused was not only closely acquainted with the child's family but even visited their home often. Mother of the child told DNA: "I had asked my daughter to go to a local store to collect money from a shopkeeper. When she returned, she was in a lot of pain. When I asked her, she revealed the incident to me."

"She said when she reached the shop, the accused spotted her and tempted her with candy, before taking her to an abandoned spot. He then raped her and fled from the spot. We had good relations with him. Our daughter often went out with him. We never expected such an act from him. We know him for the last two years," she added.After the incident, the accused told the girl to not reveal the incident to anyone and threatened her with dire consequences.

According to the police, the child was taken for a medical examination and a local NGO was brought in to counsel her. The child's mother reported the incident at the Nand Nagari police station. The victim studies in Class III at a government school.

On the basis of the complaint, the police traced the accused in Meerut. "During interrogation, he confessed to the crime. He also revealed that he used the Loni route to escape to Meerut. He has been produced before a court and sent to jail," an investigating officer said.