A five-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a relative who lured her with the promise of a motorbike ride, according to police. The alleged assault took place in Singrauli district, in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, on October 23.
Officers say the man took the young girl and another child on his motorbike before heading towards a cow shed in their village. He allegedly instructed the other child to remain outside while he sexually assaulted the five-year-old inside. The man is further accused of threatening the girl and warning her to keep quiet about what had occurred.
Family reports after two-day delay
Her family remained unaware of the alleged attack for two days, until the girl told her mother she was in pain. The family subsequently visited Waidhan police station on October 25 to report the allegations.
Abhimanyu Dwivedi, the officer in charge of Waidhan police station, told the Times of India: "The incident took place on Oct 23, but since the survivor is a child, she could not comprehend and tell her parents about it. It was only on Oct 25, when her mother was bathing her, that she complained of pain."
"When questioned, she told her mother what had happened. They then rushed to the police station."
Arrest and charges
The girl was taken to hospital for treatment and was subsequently discharged in a stable condition, reports the Express. Officers launched an immediate hunt for the suspect following the complaint, with Mr Dwivedi confirming the suspect was apprehended within hours and subsequently remanded in custody.
Officers have filed charges under multiple sections of India's Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the nation's criminal code, alongside the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, widely referred to as POCSO.
