7-year-old molested in Santacruz, cops question 200 people

MUMBAI: The Santacruz police have questioned around 200 people in connection with the sexual assault of a minor, but have not been able to identify the culprit yet.

The incident occurred last week, around 6pm in Santacruz (West), when the girl was playing near her residence.

The seven-year-old was approached by the accused, who took her to a staircase in the nearby building. He forced her to take off her clothes and molested her. When the girl started to cry, the accused fled the spot.

The girl then narrated the incident to a family member, and a complaint was filed with the Santacruz police on the basis of her statement. “An unidentified man has been charged with sexual assault under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. It is a serious offence and we have questioned all the residents. Female members of the police team have searched several houses in the area to identify the accused, based on the description given by the girl, but the attempts have been in vain,” said the official.

While there are no CCTV cameras installed in the building, CCTV footage from neighbouring areas have been scanned.

One man , who seemed suspicious, has been taken in for questioning by the police, said the official. Meanwhile, several women officers, dressed in civilian clothes, are keeping a watch in the area.