Seven-year-old girl raped, accused thrashed by public

 A seven-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a shopkeeper at north-east Delhi’s Harsh Vihar on Monday afternoon. 

Neighbours and family members of the victim thrashed the accused after they got to know about the incident later in the evening.

The 27-year-old accused, Rajesh, is receiving treatment in Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital for severe injuries he sustained during the beating. 

The victim, a class 1 student in a government school in the area, was playing alone outside her house at 1.30 pm when Rajesh saw her. 

“He lured her to his cigarette shop in the same area and raped her there,” a police officer said. 

When the girl started crying, he allegedly gave her Rs 10 and promised to give her more cash in the coming days so that she keeps quiet.

The girl returned home after the incident and kept to herself till late in the evening before breaking down in front of her mother. Then the girl’s family members and neighbours gathered to search for Rajesh, who did not expect that the girl would reveal the incident to anyone. He was caught unaware in his house.

“He was pulled out of his house and thrashed badly. Someone informed police by phone and a team rushed to the spot and took him to hospital, where he is undergoing treatment,” the officer said.

Based on the victim’s statement and after medical reports indicated rape, Harsh Vihar police booked Rajesh for rape and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. Police are also speaking to other children in the area to see if he had targeted anyone else. 

The victim’s parents work odd jobs in a factory in north-east Delhi.