Navi Mumbai: A 34-year-old man has been arrested by NRI coastal police for allegedly sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl residing in his locality in Karave village on Dec 24 night.A police officer informed that, on Dec 24 around 9.30 pm, the accused identified as Pravat Kumar Paik, a daily wage labourer, entered the girl’s house when she was alone and was watching television. As he allegedly sexually fondled the minor girl, she raised an alarm when neighbours rushed to her rescue and caught the accused till the girl’s parents, who are also labourers, arrived after being informed about the incident. The accused was thrashed by the building residents and brought to police station.An FIR was registered under BNS section for assault or the use of criminal force against a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty along with Pocso Act for punishment for Aggravated Sexual Assault and Punishment for Sexual Harassment of a Child. The accused was arrested and produced before Belapur court that remanded him in police custody for one day till Friday and later sent him to jail custody.
