A 68-year-old man has been arrested in Jharkhand’s Palamu after he was accused of sexually assaulting a four-year-old girl, an incident that has triggered widespread anger among local residents and prompted protests demanding strict punishment for the accused.
Police have registered a case under relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and said the accused has been sent to judicial custody as the investigation continues.
The case came to light after the child informed her mother about the alleged assault, leading to immediate police action and strong public reaction in the area.
Residents gathered in protest and said there was no place in society for such individuals, demanding that the accused be kept away from the community and punished under the law.
According to police, the accused, identified as Vidya Saav, allegedly took the child to his house on April 30 and assaulted her.
Authorities said the incident came to light when the man allegedly approached the child again on Thursday and attempted to lure her to his home by offering chocolates.
The child reportedly became frightened and disclosed the earlier incident to her mother.
The victim’s family then informed neighbours, after which local residents assembled and raised slogans against the accused.
Protesters blocked traffic near Cinema Mor on NH-139 by burning tyres, causing temporary disruption to the vehicular movement.
The protest was later called off after police reached the spot and assured the crowd that action had already been initiated.
Police inspector Devvrat Poddar said the accused was arrested from his residence soon after the complaint was filed.
“The police would gather evidence and strive to ensure that the accused receives punishment as soon as possible,” he said.
The child has been sent to Medininagar for medical examination. Police said statements are being recorded and medical findings will be included in the investigation.
Chhatarpur SDPO Avadh Kumar Yadav said the case was registered on the basis of a written complaint filed by the survivor’s mother and legal proceedings are underway.
The incident has intensified concerns over crimes against children and comes just days after a similar case in Maharashtra’s Pune, where a four-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered.
The accused in that case, a 65-year-old labourer with a prior criminal record, was arrested after CCTV footage helped police identify him.
In the Pune case, the child had gone missing while visiting her maternal grandmother during school holidays.
Her body was later recovered from a cow shed where police said it had been concealed.
The latest incident in Jharkhand has once again sparked concerns around child safety and rising cases of sex abuse of minors indicating a dangerous and alarming trend. Meanwhile, police are further investigating the matter and have assued tough action into it.
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Published On:
May 15, 2026 09:11 IST
