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Muslim Cleric Arrested in Karnataka for Sexual Assault of Six-Year-Old Relative

The POCSO Act has been invoked after the victim’s mother filed a complaint upon finding her crying outside the cleric’s home.

Pocso case against Muslim cleric for sexual assault of 6-year-old girl
Image
rape, iStock

Overview

  • The assault occurred on May 30 at around 6:45 PM when the six-year-old Class 1 student in Chikkaballapur Town’s Darga Mohalla area was lured inside with promises of chocolate.
  • The girl’s mother discovered her distressed on the stairs of her relative’s house and immediately lodged a police complaint.
  • On June 4, Karnataka Police arrested 31-year-old cleric Mehfooz under the POCSO Act, 2012, with sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita also applied.
  • Mehfooz, who served as a Muslim religious cleric, was a maternal relative of the victim, highlighting trust breaches within families.
  • The case adds to a growing wave of child abuse incidents nationwide that has prompted tougher enforcement and expedited trials under Operation Conviction.