Priest arrested for raping 10-yr-old girl in neighbourhood

A priest allegedly raped a 10-year-old girl living in her neighbourhood in southeast Delhi's Jaitpur area on Wednesday. Police said that the girl narrated her ordeal to her mother after which the crime came to the fore. Police have arrested the accused on Wednesday night.

According to the police, the incident took place when the girl, a student of Class 4, returned from school and entered her house. As her parents were away for work, the accused saw the victim alone and entered the house behind her.

"The victim said that the man was known to her since he used to hold religious gatherings in the neighbourhood. As a result, the girl did not raise an alarm when he approached her," said a senior police officer.

"The victim's mother also told us that when she returned, her daughter was crying. When asked she stated how the man touched her inappropriately and sexually harassed her. On hearing this, the woman called up the police."

The child also told the police that the man had threatened her not to tell anything about the incident to her parents, or he would use his powers to harm her family members.

The police raided the suspect's house and he was arrested.

Senior police officers said that the accused confessed to have sexually harassed the girl and has been booked under the IPC section and POCSO Act.