Nine-year-old critical after rape, undergoes surgeries

Police said the accused, Gopi Nisha Malha, lured her with chocolates and took her to a secluded place. He has been arrested.
Soon after a case was registered, Education Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday demanded suspension of the local SHO to send a “strong message” to police to prevent heinous crimes.

According to police, the incident was reported around 6.30 pm on Sunday when the victim, a student of a government school, was playing in a park near her house with friends.

The accused reportedly tried to lure three girls by offering them chocolates. While two of the victim’s friends did not accept the chocolates and ran away, the victim went with the accused. After taking her to a corner, the accused allegedly gagged her mouth and took her to a secluded spot, where he allegedly raped her.

When the girl did not reach home till late evening, her parents approached her friends to enquire about her whereabouts. Police said the two girls, who had managed to flee, told the victim’s parents about Malha. The victim’s mother spotted her and the accused in nearby Nawabganj area. “The girl, who was shouting for help, was spotted by her mother. The accused left the victim on the road and fled. He was later arrested and a case under Section 363, 376, 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 3/4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO) was registered at Bara Hindu Rao police station,” a police officer said.