Mumbai: A six-year-old minor was allegedly molested by a 16-year-old boy in Kalva at a provisions store, on Monday evening. The accused, who was at the store to make a purchase, forcibly whisked off the girl from the store to an isolated corner and then molested her. The girl had visited the provisions store to purchase tea for her family. The minor’s parents have registered a complaint at Kalva police station. The police has arrested the accused and booked him under IPC Section 354 for molestation.

A police source said, “The accused molested a six-year-old minor when he saw her coming alone to buy tea powder from a store located in the building her family stays at. The accused held her in an inappropriately and forced her to sit on his lap against her will to molest her.” The source further said, “The minor went home crying. When she narrated the incident to her parents, her father immediately lodged a complaint against the accused in Kalva police station at 10 pm.”

When The Asian Age spoke to police inspector V A Mugale of Kalva police station, he said, “The incident took place on Monday at around 8 in the evening. We have arrested the accused. He was produced in court on Tuesday and will be kept in Bhiwandi remand home till Friday.”

The police booked the accused under IPC section 354 for molestation, along with section 8 and 12 of POCSO act (for punishment for sexual assault and sexual harassment). The accused was produced in a court on Tuesday and was remanded to police’s custody till Friday.