Thane: Man arrested for molesting 8-year-old on birthday

NEW DELHI: A 37-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly molesting an eight-year-old girl in Thane district, Maharashtra, police said on Thursday. The incident occurred in Bhiwandi on October 15, the child’s birthday. According to the FIR, the girl was playing outside her home when Dineshkumar Sharma told her he would buy her a birthday gift and asked her to accompany him. “The child got scared and ran into her house,” an official said. Sharma allegedly later approached the girl while she was playing with friends. “The accused touched her inappropriately. When she raised an alarm, Sharma warned her of dire consequences if she talked about the incident with anyone,” the official added, citing the FIR. The girl’s father reported the matter to Bhiwandi police on October 22, leading to Sharma’s arrest under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Police have not explained why the complaint was made a week after the incident.