Surat: A seven-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 22-year-old co-worker of her parents at a textile-related unit in Khatodara, police said on Sunday.The incident allegedly took place on Friday morning when the girl had accompanied her mother to work. Khatodara police have arrested the accused, a native of Odisha.According to the FIR registered on Saturday, the incident came to light on Friday evening when the girl’s mother noticed injuries in the child’s private area while bathing her. On being questioned, the minor told her mother that the accused had taken her to a room at the workplace, removed her clothes and sexually assaulted her.Police said the girl’s father left for work around 8am, while her mother left around 9.30am. The girl accompanied her mother to work, spending time playing in a room at the workplace.According to the FIR, when the girl’s mother went to the changing room, the accused allegedly took the child to another room and raped her. He also pinched her and threatened her not to disclose the incident to anyone.Police said the accused had allegedly behaved inappropriately with the girl on earlier occasions as well, including touching and hugging her, over the past one-and-a-half months.Khatodara police have registered a case under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and are investigating the matter.
