Labourer rapes 5-year-old after luring her with soft drink in Vizag city

Visakhapatnam: Anger has swept across Visakhapatnam after a 20-year-old-daily wage labourer allegedly raped a five-year-old girl at Pendurthi on Thursday evening.

Police have arrested the accused and registered a case of rape against him. Police have identified the accused as 20-year-old daily wage worker M Jagadeesh.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (West Division) G Swaroopa Rani said the accused is a neighbour of the girl.

The incident occurred when the girl was playing near her home on Thursday. Police said the accused lured the girl with a soft drink and took her home where he allegedly raped her. Later, he abandoned the girl in an injured condition near her residence and escaped from the spot.

When the girl’s parents, who are daily wage labourers, returned from work, they found her crying in pain. On enquiring, the victim narrated the tale of horror. They immediately rushed to the police station and lodged a formal complaint against the accused.

Police quickly swung into action and registered a case of rape under section 376 of the Indian Penal Code and other sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. A massive hunt was launched and the culprit was nabbed on Thursday night

“Initially, there were rumours that the accused is mentally deranged. But our investigation has revealed that the accused is mentally sound. We have arrested the accused on Thursday night and investigation is on”, said Swaroopa Rani.

Police have shifted the victim to a government hospital for medical examination. Leaders and activists of various women’s organizations on Friday staged a protest near Pendurthi area demanding capital punishment to the culprit.