21 February,2020 03:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
This picture has been used for representational purpose only
In a shocking incident, the Mulund police arrested a 70-year-old shopkeeper for allegedly molesting two girls minor girls. The incident came to light when the mother of one of the two girls filed a complaint against the shopkeeper, who has been identified as Dharamchand Bhuralal Patwari.
According to the complainant, the two minor girls are aged six and seven respectively. The two live in the same neighbourhood that the accused lives. During the complaint, the two girls told the police that the accused used to touch them inappropriately whenever they used to visit his hardware store while running errands for their families.
"The first instance with the older girl happened a month ago", the woman alleged in her complaint, reports Mumbai Mirror. The woman also mentioned that the two girls knew that the accused used to molest them and they would often discuss it among themselves.
In her complaint, the woman claimed that the two girls were confused as to what was happening with them. They were so much scared that they decided against telling their families about the incident. On Tuesday night, the two girls met the accused once again and when he asked one of them to remove the garments that they decided to tell their families. The two girls were on their way home from tuition class around when the alleged incident took place.
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In her complaint, the woman said, "He touched one of the girls inappropriately on Tuesday too. He also offered to walk with them as it was late. They refused his offer and ran towards home." Upon reaching home, the two minor girls revealed their ordeal to their families. "They also told us about several other instances when he had touched them," the complainant said.
After one of the girl's mother filed a complaint, the Mulund police took the accused in their custody. "We registered his statement as well as those of the girls. They are too young to probe the incident in detail. In due time, specialised counsellors will help us in asking them more questions. In the meantime, looking at the seriousness of the complaint, we booked the accused under relevant sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO)," said an officer from Mulund police.
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