Man held for raping eight-year-old neighbour in Indore

Indore: An eight-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her 19-year-old neighbour in her house in Depalpur area, the police said on Tuesday.

The incident occurred on Monday when the Madhya Pradesh assembly unanimously passed a bill prescribing death sentence to those found guilty of raping girls aged 12 and younger.

Police on Tuesday detained the suspect, Sandeep Kalouta, in connection with the incident.

“An eight-year-old girl was allegedly raped in Depalpur area when she was alone at her home last evening when her parents were out for work,” Superintendent of Police Vivek Singh told a news agency.

He said the police are awaiting a medical examination report of the girl before formally arresting Kalouta.

An FIR has been registered under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and various sections of the IPC including section 376 (punishment for rape).

As per the provisions of the landmark bill cleared by the House, raping a girl aged 12 years or less could invite death penalty.

The bill will be sent for the President’s assent before it could become law.