Child escapes sexual assault by auto driver in Mumbai

An offer of a free rickshaw ride turned into a nightmare for an eight-year-old girl, who had to jump out of the vehicle to escape possible sexual assault. The 33-year-old rickshaw driver was arrested on Saturday, thanks to the quick-witted child, who leapt out when the rickshaw halted at a signal and noted its number.

The driver has been remanded in police custody till April 24.

As per the remand application, on April 19, the victim's mother dropped her to her municipal school at 7.30 am and left for work.

Around 1.30 pm, the school got over and the child took a rickshaw to get home.

The driver, Jitendra Kumar Singh, first offered her some chips and water, which she refused. Later, he informed her that he would like to take her for a ride, which struck as suspicious to the child. She jumped out when the driver stopped at a red light near BKC family court, and approached a security guard of a private company who called her mother up.

The mother filed a complaint with the BKC police. The police verified the rickshaw number from CCTV footage and it matched. Kumar has been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSOA).