Vendor tries to molest girl, thrashed by locals

A vegetable vendor, 24, was arrested Sunday by the Bharuch district police for allegedly attempting to kidnap and molest a five-year-old girl. Locals caught and thrashed him for the attempted assault on the minor, police said. Videos of the incident that surfaced Monday, filmed by locals, show the accused being dragged out of a thicket while some people can be seen rescuing the girl, officials said.

The accused was tied to a tree and beaten up while the locals waited for the police to arrive.
Superintendent of Police, Bharuch, Leena Patil, told The Indian Express, “The incident took place on Sunday. The accused had indeed kidnapped the little girl and she was rescued by the locals in the nick of time. The locals had called up the police but as he tried to escape, they tried him to the tree. Locals also slapped him but he was not grievously injured or hurt.”

According to the police, the accused — a migrant selling tomatoes on a handcart– arrived near the girl’s house and allegedly tempted her with chocolates to convince her to accompany him.

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When locals spotted the accused carrying the girl with him into a deserted thicket, they followed and caught hold of him before he could molest the girl, police were told.

Nabipur police have booked the accused under Indian Penal Code sections for kidnapping from lawful guardianship (363), molestation (354) as well as relevant sections of the POCSO Act.