Gurgaon: The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of police rescued an 11-year-old girl from Navi Mumbai on Nov 4, about six weeks after she was allegedly kidnapped and sexually assaulted by a 35-year-old tenant living at her house. She was found with multiple injury marks on her body and allegedly disclosed the assault on her while being kept away from her family.The accused, a daily-wage labourer, had lived with the family for three to four months, paying Rs 1,000 as monthly rent to the girl’s father. He took the girl to Navi Mumbai and began working there at a restaurant. He has been arrested.The girl is the granddaughter of a police officer. According to sources, the accused had developed a close acquaintance with the girl’s father. This familiarity allegedly helped him gain the child’s trust and access to her.In Navi Mumbai, the accused allegedly introduced her as his daughter to people. Sources said the girl tried to seek help by calling the emergency helpline 112 from Navi Mumbai but could not get through, and that she was kept in miserable conditions. Gurgaon police eventually traced the accused and located the girl following an investigation by AHTU along with Bajghera police.An FIR was initially registered at Bajghera police station under Section 137 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which covers kidnapping, including taking a child away from the lawful guardian without consent. After the recovery and after the girl’s medical examination and the recording of her statement before the judicial magistrate, police added more charges on Nov 4. These include sections 65(2) (rape of a girl below 12 years of age), 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), 118(1) (voluntarily causing hurt using dangerous weapons or means), 351(3) (criminal intimidation involving threats of death or grievous hurt) of BNS and section 4 (punishment for penetrative sexual assault) and 6 (punishment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault) of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.The girl is under the observation of police personnel and counsellors, who are monitoring her, and police are taking steps to ensure she receives the necessary care and support during the investigation.
