Man Allegedly Rapes 4-Year-Old By Luring Her With Sweets, Gets Thrashed By Child's Family

A 25-year-old man in India was arrested for allegedly raping a 4-year-old girl by luring her into a factory with sweets.

The police said Tuesday the incident took place in the city of Delhi last week. The girl was reportedly playing near her house located close to a jeans manufacturing factory Thursday when the accused spotted her. The accused worked in the factory and lured the child inside by giving her sweets. The police said the accused, identified by his first name Dipesh, then raped the girl and let her go, the Hindustan Times reported.

The child went home and the next day she shared the ordeal with her parents following which they filed a police complaint. Before the police arrived at the scene, the victim's family members and other locals caught hold of the accused and thrashed him.

The police then arrested the accused. He is currently in judicial custody, an officer said, News 18 reported, citing Press Trust of India. A case was registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Authorities said the accused was known to the victim's family.

“We will be sending a notice to the concerned authorities. Our priority is to provide medical aid, rehabilitation to the child and are committed to ensuring that the accused is brought to justice, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Chairman Priyank Kanoongo told Asian News International reported Wednesday.

India's rape cases have seen a spike in recent years, with the numbers doubling in the last 17 years, the National Crime Records Bureau said in a report in December 2019. The report stated the accused were known to the victims in 93.1 percent of cases reported in India in 2017.

Last week, a 10-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted and killed by a 35-year-old man. The accused had been living as a tenant near the victim's home in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. On the day of the incident, the accused went to the victim's house to celebrate a local festival. He allegedly got drunk and lured the girl away from her family. The accused then raped and killed the child. The victim's body was later found dumped near a canal.