11-yr-old dials helpline, says ‘uncle’ abused her
GREATER NOIDA: On January 8, an operator at the 1098 child helpline got a call from an 11-year-old girl. She introduced herself as a class 5 student in Greater Noida and wanted to report on an “uncle” who had been sexually abusing her for the last six months.
The same evening the girl was rescued by an NGO from her residence and on Friday evening, police arrested a 25-year-old man after an initial probe. The child has been shifted to a child care centre for the moment.
The “uncle” turned out to be a man with who was in a live-in relationship with the girl’s mother. The girl, her brother and their mother stayed in a Greater Noida society. The girl’s father had died four years ago. According to police, the mother and the man were in a relationship for the last one year.
The suspect works in a private company in the area, while the girls mother is employed in another private company.
According to authorities, the girl borrowed her friend’s phone and dialled 1098 to report the matter on January 8.
“The brave child alerted the authorities regarding an uncle who used to torture her and sexually abuse her,” said Satya Prakash, programme manager, FXB India Suraksha, an NGO that deals with child protection in the city. “She requested help and our team sprang into action after the call. We rescued the victim from her house on January 8 evening when she was alone with her younger brother. The medical test of the victim was also conducted then and we reported the matter to the local child welfare committee.”
Police said that they received a report from the child welfare committee on January 9, asking for the immediate arrest of the accused.
“Based on the complaint, we booked the accused under IPC sections 376, 323, 506 for rape, causing hurt and criminal intimidation along with section 3 and 4 of the protection of children against sexual offences (POCSO) act,” said Ramphal Singh, station house officer, Kasna police station.
Police said they arrested the suspect on Friday evening.