Rajkot: A case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act has been registered here after an 11-year-old girl told her family she had been sexually assaulted by a 17-year-old boy from the neighbourhood.Police launched an investigation and are recording statements from witnesses and family members. The girl’s mother lodged a complaint at Taluka police station against their 17-year-old neighbour, alleging that he sexually assaulted her 11-year-old daughter on Saturday evening.Taluka police registered a case under for aggravated penetrative sexual assault under the Pocso Act and related sections of the BNS, based on a complaint by the girl’s mother.According to the FIR, the offence occurred between 7pm and 7.30pm on Saturday when the accused entered the complainant’s house, threatened her daughter and sexually assaulted her.Police sources said the complainant was away from home at the time. At 8pm, the victim’s brother asked her to return home. When she arrived, she found her daughter crying and then learned about the offence.The complaint states that the accused allegedly threatened the girl with dire consequences if she spoke about the crime to anyone.Investigators said a neighbour had called the victim and her eight-year-old sister to her house for food. After the younger sibling arrived, she was asked to call her elder sister. The younger child later returned in distress and told the neighbour what she had seen at the victim’s house.The neighbour rushed to the victim’s house and allegedly saw the accused leaving the premises. Inside, she found the girl crying, police said.Investigating officer S R Meghani told TOI that preliminary inquiries indicate that the accused works in the vegetable trade.
