A 25-year-old autorickshaw driver has been arrested for allegedly raping a 5-year-old in southeast Delhi’s Amar Colony. The accused was arrested three days after his wedding at his village in Champaran in Bihar.
Manish Kumar Pandey, who rides an autorickshaw in Delhi, was apprehended on November 23 and brought to Delhi the next day.
According to the police, the father of the child lodged a complaint on November 20 that his daughter had been sexually assaulted by a man living in the neighbourhood whom the victim addressed as ‘uncle’. “The father said she had red marks on her cheeks and lips,” said a senior police officer.
Assaulted by ‘uncle’
The minor was allegedly sexually assaulted two-three days before the parents approached the police. According to the officer, when the girl’s mother noticed the marks, she asked her what had happened but the victim stayed mum. However, on November 19, she told the mother that an ‘uncle’ had bitten her lips and cheeks.
“She also told the mother that the man had inserted his fingers in her private parts which is why she complained of pain and itching. The complainant said that the man had threatened to kill the girl if she told anyone about the incident,” said the officer.
Based on the complaint, a case under Section 376 (Punishment for rape) of the Indian Penal Code and 6 Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act was registered and investigation was taken up.
The girl didn’t know the accused’s name but had shown her parents the house where the alleged assault took place. The police said they scanned CCTV footage of at least 25 cameras near the crime spot to establish the identity of the accused.
“Tenant verification and verification of auto drivers residing in the area was checked. Eventually, an input was received stating that one Manish Kumar Pandey was residing at the address mentioned in the complaint. He was found to be a native of Thakur Tola village,” the officer said.
After his location was traced, a team was sent to the village, but the villagers allegedly did not cooperate with the police because of the influence of the accused’s family members.
“His family has a political background, and therefore, no one was ready to help the police team,” teh officer said.
However, on November 23, the police managed to locate his house and laid a trap to catch him. “Around 6am, he came out of his house and was apprehended,” the officer said.
During the interrogation it was revealed that after committing the crime, Pandey fled to his village where he got married on November 20. The accused was allegedly planning to flee to Nepal.
