Surat: A 45-year-old man has been accused of raping his nine-year-old neighbour after allegedly taking her to his house while her parents were away at work. Khatodara police have registered a case against the accused and have launched an investigation.According to the FIR registered on Wednesday, the girl’s parents had gone to work on Monday. Around 4pm, the girl’s elder brother called their father and informed him that the neighbour had taken his nine-year-old sister inside his house and closed the door.As the girl’s mother was nearby, she immediately returned home. When she questioned her son, he told her that after knocking on the neighbour’s door, the accused opened it after some time and that her sister was inside the house.The mother then asked her daughter what had happened, but the girl did not respond. However, she noticed that her daughter appeared disturbed and unusually quiet. Two days later, when the girl complained of stomach pain, she took her to a healthcare centre in Althan for treatment. The minor that she had been sexually assaulted.The mother subsequently approached Khatodara police and lodged a complaint against the neighbour.Police have registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Pocso Act. According to police, both the accused and the victim’s family are from the same state and had come to Surat in search of employment.
