Shimla: Panchayat head arrested for raping 13-year-old girl; victim lured under false pretenses of 'rituals'

NEW DELHI: A 13-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a panchayat head Kishori Lal in Shimla under the pretense of performing tantric rituals on October 15 and 17, police reported on Monday.The accused has been arrested and charged with rape under Section 65 of BNS and sections of the POCSO Act.According to police, the incident began on September 21 when the victim was heading to school. Kishori Lal approached her and inquired about a 'mala' she was wearing, which was a gift from a friend.When Kishori Lal touched the necklace, the girl reported feeling a "shock."The accused claimed he practiced "ritual" and told the girl that the necklace needed to be consecrated with mantras, warning that her family members would die otherwise.Using this ruse, he lured the girl to his house on October 15 and sexually assaulted her.The accused repeated the assault on October 17 when he took the girl to his house again.The police have filed a case based on the victim's complaint and taken the accused into custody.