Three in custody for raping 10-year-old in Vikhroli

Parksite police on Wednesday arrested three people for allegedly sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl in Vikhroli. The incident came to light after the victim told of her ordeal to her parents a few days back. They then approached the police and registered a complaint.

According to the police, one of the accused, aged 45, is the victim's family friend, who has been living with the family for the last few years. The other two are youngsters, aged 19 and 20, and are also victim's neighbours.
“The girl's ordeal started six months ago when she was first sexually assaulted by the family friend who would take advantage of any opportunity that came his way,” said Suresh Sakpal, senior police inspector, Parksite station. Seeing him, the other two also started sexually assaulting the poor child,” Sakpal added.

On December 25, the girl told her mother about this. Her parents then consulted a few people in the area and approached the police on Wednesday.
“We immediately registered an FIR and arrested the accused. During investigations it was revealed that the child's neighbours would take her to their homes and sexually assault her,” said inspector Sakpal. “All the three did odd jobs for a living. We are investigating whether they are involved in any similar crimes.”

Parksite police have registered a case under IPC sections 376-G (gang-rape), 354-A (sexual harassment), and sections 4 (penetrative sexual assault), 8 (sexual assault) and section 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.