Waiter held for raping 4-year-old

The Dindoshi police have arrested a 24-year-old man for allegedly raping his four-year-old neighbour. The arrested man, Suraj alias Surya Mahatam Mandal, works as a waiter.

According to the police, the victim lives with her parents at Vadaripada area of Goregaon and Mandal lives in the same area in a rented room. The girl's father runs a vada pav stall. As usual, he had left for work on Thursday, while his wife left home for some work around 7.30pm, leaving the girl behind.

"Mandal seized the opportunity. He took the victim to his room on the pretext of giving her toys and violated her. When the victim's mother returned home, she saw blood on her clothes. The girl then confided in her mother and narrated her ordeal," said an officer from the Dindoshi police station.

The girl's mother then informed her husband, and they got a complaint lodged with the police. Late on Thursday night, the police arrested Mandal. The girl was admitted to a government hospital and her medical reports confirmed sexual assault.

Mandal has been booked on charges of rape under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act.