Minor raped in rickshaw, accused held

Mumbai: A seven-year-old girl was allegedly raped inside an auto-rickshaw in Chembur on Friday morning. The school van in which the girl was travelling along with 11 other children had broken down at Amar Mahal, due to which the driver started sending children to their school in rickshaws.

When the girl got into one of the rickshaws, a passenger, identified as Maulam Harijan alias Raja (27), allegedly took her on his lap and raped her. After the girl went to school, she told her school teacher.

The youth was arrested by Tilak Nagar police on Saturday night.

According to Tilak nagar, Raja is a resident of Lalubai Compound, Mankhurd.

According to the Tilak Nagar police, Raja, who was seated inside the auto-rickshaw, touched the girl inappropriately and inserted a finger in her private parts. After the incident, the accused alighted from the vehicle before the children reached their school at Tilak Nagar. When the girl reached her school, she confided in her teacher about the incident.

Vijay Khaire, senior police inspector, Tilak Nagar police station, said, “The girl was taken to the hospital for a medical examination after which we registered the case. Raja, who was absconding, was arrested under sections of the Indian Penal Code and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.” Raja has been remanded in police custody till February 28.