10-Year-Old Girl Saves 6-Year-Old Sister From Sexual Assault By Neighbour

As sexual violence against women continues to rise in the city, including minors, help sometimes occurs from the most unlikely places and extreme courage. The stellar presence of mind by a ten-year-old girl helped to avert sexual assault on her six-year-old sister by a 54-year-old neighbour in Pimpri on Thursday. Luring the six-year- old with chocolates, the man had taken her to his house. The ten-year- old followed and raised the alarm when the man tried to assault her sister.

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Based on the complaint by the victim¡¯s mother, the Pimpri police arrested the attacker, identified as Yashodharan Gopal. Gopal originally hails from Kerala but is currently living in Pimpri, close to the victim¡¯s residence. Based on the complaint, police have slapped charges under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code for molestation as well as relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The incident took place on January 26 when both the sisters were playing in front of their house.

Sub-inspector Ratna Sawant of Pimpri police station, who is investigating the case, told Pune Mirror, ¡°Since it was Republic Day, the children had come back from school early. Their parents had gone out and they were playing in front of the house when Gopal came to the spot and offered chocolate to the six-year -old girl. He then asked her to come to his house.¡±

He took the girl to his house and her sister followed them. She spotted Gopal taking her sister inside the house and locking the door. ¡°Getting suspicious, the girl went to the window of the house. Looking in, she saw her sister pinned down under Gopal. As she raised an alarm, Gopal let the victim go. She ran out of the house, crying,¡± Sawant added.

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The ten-year-old took her sister back and waited for their parents to return. ¡°At night, the girls narrated the whole incident to their parents. Initially, their mother scolded them for going to Gopal¡¯s house in the first place. But later, understanding the gravity of the situation, they approached the police on Friday,¡± Sawant said.

Based on the complaint, when the police team reached the area, they found Gopal at his house. ¡°He was inebriated and not in his senses. We nabbed him and brought him to the police station. The girls gave us a detailed statement regarding what happened that day. Based on that information, we arrested Gopal,¡± Sawant concluded.

Since it was Republic Day, the children had come back from school early. Their parents had gone out and they were playing in front of the house when Gopal came to the spot and offered chocolate to the six-year-old girl. He then asked her to come to his house