Man accused of raping 9 year old held trying to commit same crime

A 45-year-old man, who had allegedly raped a nine-year-old girl on the intervening night of July 2 and 3 in Bhalukpatra village under Dumaria police station of Ghatsila sub-division, was arrested while attempting a similar crime Thursday night, the police on Thursday said.

A resident of adjoining Kumrasol village, the accused Surendra Sardar alias Hablu, had allegedly raped a minor girl of Bhalukpatra village and made a similar attempt with another girl of the village, said Senior Superintendent of Police, Anoop T Mathew.

Addressing a press conference, Mathew said the girl's father had a scuffle with the accused after he caught him trying to commit the crime, but Hablu managed to flee. The accused was arrested on Thursday based on his driving license, which dropped from his pocket during the scuffle, the SSP said.

Referring to the allegations of rape committed earlier this month, Mathew said an FIR was lodged against an unknown person under sections 366A/376 IPC and section 3 and 4 Pocso Act based on the statement of the victim.

Following interrogation, Mathew said Hablu confessed that he had committed the crime on the intervening night of July 2 and 3. The Police have on Thursday registered an FIR against Hablu under section 448/377/511 IPC based on the statement of the father of the girl, whom the accused was trying to get hold of last night, he added.