Police have held a 63-year-old man for sexually assaulting his 12-year-old neighbour for a period of three months, reports the Times of India. The accused, Kadhar Basha, has been arrested from his residence in Walajpet in Vellore District.
The girl lived with her elder brother following the demise of their parents. The victim's brother, who worked in a private shoe factory, would leave the house at 8am and only come back by 10pm. The girl who is a class eight student however, spent most of her free time at home.
On Thursday, her brother reportedly took her to a Government hospital in Walajapet because she fell ill. On examining her, doctors found that she was being sexually assaulted for over a period of time. When questioned, the minor admitted that her neighbour, Kadhar Basha forced her into having a physical relationship with the him for the last three months. The doctors on hearing this, alerted the police.
This incident comes to light merely two days after a seven-year-old girl was sexually assaulted, murdered and her body burnt by her neighbour. Protests have broken out in Mugalivakkam, where the incident occured, with women from the Chennai suburb demanding that the accused be given capital punishment.
According to NCRB statistics, majority of rapes in India are committed by people known to the victims such as relatives, neighbours and employers.