Third Minor Accused in Delhi Girl's Assault Traced to Bihar, Police Confirm
In a significant development in the Northeast Delhi sexual assault case involving a six-year-old girl, police have confirmed that the third minor accused, who had been absconding, has been traced to Bihar. This comes days after the alleged assault by three teenagers shocked the capital.
Police Investigation and Apprehension Details
According to police officials, the other two minor boys, aged 10 and 13, were apprehended on January 19, just one day after the incident occurred. The third accused, aged 14, had been on the run since then. "They (the accused and his family) allegedly fled to Bihar. We have sent multiple teams to locate them," an officer stated, highlighting the ongoing efforts to bring all involved to justice.
Victim's Family Account and Incident Details
The victim's family resides in a narrow, dark lane in Northeast Delhi, in a room without windows. Interestingly, one of the accused lived in a similar locked room in the same lane. The girl's father recounted, "We shifted here seven months ago. Earlier, we lived in the lane opposite to this one. The other two boys used to be our neighbours then. They used to play with my eldest son who died a couple of years ago." Both houses of the accused are currently locked.
On January 18, the father dropped his daughter near their home before going to buy vegetables. The mother described the traumatic return: "She came and fainted in front of me. She was bleeding. After she regained consciousness, she told me that she fell down. The boy who lives next door, who arrived soon after she did, claimed that he had seen her falling." She added that they had known this boy for seven months but he barely interacted with her daughter.
Assault Incident and Police Response
When the mother insisted on knowing how her daughter fell, the child broke down and revealed the horrifying truth. The girl explained that the boy who arrived after her, along with two others, promised to feed her chowmein. They had spotted her standing alone after her father left. She said they took her to the second floor of a nearby abandoned factory and assaulted her. The family also claimed she was gagged and beaten before the assault.
Police officers confirmed that they found bloodstains and torn pieces of clothing at the incident site, corroborating the family's account. After the family reported the incident, the girl was rushed to a hospital for immediate medical attention.
Current Status and Family's Anguish
The family has stated that the six-year-old is now home and in stable condition. However, the mother shared the ongoing trauma: "She could not walk for two days after the incident. Two of the boys are now with their families after they visited the Child Welfare Committee. Same will happen to the third after he is caught. Is this justice? They have committed a crime like adults. Why should they be dealt with as children?" This poignant question underscores the family's distress and the broader legal complexities surrounding juvenile offenders in such severe cases.
