Asked to ‘watch’ toddler for 15 minutes, man kidnaps him from hospital, sexually assaults child | Bhopal News
BHOPAL: A 20-year-old man was arrested in Bhopal on Sunday evening for allegedly kidnapping a one-and-a-half-year-old boy from a hospital canteen and sexually abusing him at a nearby abandoned structure.The mother later tracked the man down and rescued the child with help from passersby.Acting on a complaint lodged by the toddler’s mother, the police registered a case against the man, under sections pertaining to kidnapping and sexual assault under the BNS and the POCSO Act.According to the police, the survivor’s mother works at the canteen of a hospital in the city. The accused, a resident of Chhatarpur district who works as a labourer, frequently visited the hospital premises and was known to the family. Since he often played with the child, the mother did not suspect any foul play.The incident occurred around 6:30 pm on Sunday when the woman was occupied with work at the canteen. The man arrived at the spot and began playing with the toddler. Busy with her chores, the mother asked him to watch over the boy for about 15 minutes. However, when she returned shortly after, both of them were missing.Panicked, the mother and her relatives launched an immediate search in and around the hospital premises.During the search, a local shepherd informed the woman that he had spotted the youth taking the child towards a secluded, dilapidated building behind the hospital.Following the lead, the family rushed to the spot and found the accused in an objectionable state with the child. The mother rescued the toddler safely and alerted the police.SI Keshant Sharma said that the accused has no prior criminal record, “The toddler was immediately rescued and sent for a medical examination, which confirmed that the child suffered no physical injuries. The man was arrested.”
