A shocking incident of child molestation has come to light in Surat, where a 40-year-old barber allegedly assaulted a nine-year-old girl who had lost her way home. The Limbayat police swiftly arrested the accused, identified as Jashwant Nikam, following the distressing event that unfolded on Saturday afternoon.
How the Incident Unfolded
The victim's parents, a diamond artisan father and a mother who had stepped out for work, were away from home. Around 2:30 PM, the young girl also ventured out but soon forgot her way back. After searching exhaustively for her house, she sat down, tired and disoriented.
It was at this vulnerable moment that Jashwant Nikam approached her. Police reports state that he first offered the child an ice cream. He then made her sit on his lap and proceeded to touch her inappropriately, taking advantage of her lost and frightened state.
Public Intervention and Arrest
The girl's frightened shouts alerted people in the vicinity. Locals immediately rushed to the scene and managed to apprehend Nikam. Someone dialled the emergency number 112, prompting a quick police response. The accused was subsequently handed over to the authorities.
During the investigation, the Limbayat police discovered that Nikam runs a barber shop and is married with two children. However, his wife has not been living with him for the past few months due to a domestic dispute.
Legal Action and Charges
The police have taken firm action in the case. Jashwant Nikam has been formally arrested and booked under the stringent applicable sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
This case highlights the critical need for community vigilance and swift police action in protecting children. It also serves as a grim reminder for parents and guardians about the vulnerabilities children can face, even in their immediate neighbourhoods.
