Assam: 48-Year-Old Neighbour Held for Repeated Sexual Assault of 12-Year-Old Girl

A 48-year-old man from Bihar has been arrested for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl multiple times in her home in Assam's Sivasagar district, police said on Saturday.

The accused, a fast-food vendor originally from Samastipur district of Bihar, lived in a rented house in the same neighbourhood as the survivor. He was taken into custody on Friday evening with the assistance of local residents.

According to police, the girl's parents are daily-wage labourers who leave for work each morning, leaving their eldest daughter to care for her younger siblings. The accused allegedly exploited this routine to gain entry into the house.

"The accused took advantage of the absence of her parents and allegedly raped her multiple times at her residence," said Moidul Islam, Additional Superintendent of Police, Sivasagar.

The matter came to light on Friday when the girl complained of severe abdominal pain. Her family took her to a hospital and later lodged a complaint at the Sivasagar police station in the afternoon.

Police registered a case under Section 65(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with rape of girls under 16 years, and Section 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.

The accused initially fled but was tracked down by locals and handed over to the police. "After we came to know about the incident, we caught him and handed him over. We demand strict punishment for him, and we stand with the survivor's family," said a resident who was part of the search.

Islam said the accused has been produced before a court and his statement has been recorded.

The survivor is currently undergoing treatment. Police said her medical examination has been ordered and her statement will be recorded under court supervision once she recovers. "She is still not in a condition to give her statement. We are waiting for her to stabilise," the official said.