Teen alleges rape by neighbour

14-year-old sent to a Child Welfare Committee observation home

A 14-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her neighbour in central Delhi’s Anand Parbat on Tuesday. The accused has been arrested, police said on Thursday.

Mohammad Saifulla, 22, was initially booked for sexual harassment. He was charged for rape only after the victim’s statement was recorded under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure before a Sub-Divisional Magistrate.

According to the victim’s cousin sister and her brother-in-law, the girl was alone in the house in Baljeet Nagar when the incident took place on Tuesday morning. When the family members returned home, they found the door locked from inside.

The girl's family members claim that Saifulla refused to open the door despite repeated knocks. When he finally opened the door, Saifulla somehow managed to flee. Her family members then approached the local police station and filed a complaint.On Tuesday, the victim did not claim that she was raped, but just said that she was sexually harassed. 
Accordingly, Saifulla was arrested. He was booked under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 452 (house- trespass) of the Indian Penal Code and section 8 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences

Later on Wednesday, during her statement in the court, the girl said that she was raped. 

A medical examination of the girl also confirmed sexual assault. Section 376 of the IPC was then added in the existing FIR. The chargesheet as per new norms will be filed within 20 days.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party volunteers also gheraoed the local police station late on Wednesday. The party accused police of hushing up the case by not booking Saifulla under appropriate sections of the IPC. 
The girl has been sent to a Child Welfare Committee observation home on the grounds that her parents are not present in the capital. Her mother lives in Bihar.