Visakhapatnam, Apr 18: The city police have arrested a 23-year-old youth on charges of kidnap and raping a 9-year-old girl, a class-IV student, near Mudasarlova Park under Arilova police station limits here.
The accused was identified as Gondela Sai Kumar alias Sai, who allegedly committed the heinous crime on April 9, police said here.
Sai Kumar , who is habituated to commit sexual offences against girl children and become a pedophile, was earlier also arrested in a similar offence in October last year.
According City police chief Dr CM Thrivikram Varma, the incident occurred when the minor girl was playing near her residence.
The accused on a bike approached her, interacted with her on the guise of enquiry for HCG Hospital. Later, he kidnapped and took her to an isolated place and allegedly raped her.
He also threatened her with dire consequences, Varma added.
The incident came to light after the victim’s mother approached Arilova police.
After recording the statement of the girl and medical examination, the Arilova police registered a case against the accused under Sections 366, 376 and 506 of IPC and Section 6 r/w 5(m) of POCSO-Act-2012. ACP of Disha Police Station.
The accused , who is residing at a hostel near Rama Talkies in the city, was arrested near Arilova on the basis of key evidence and the police have seized the bike of the accused.
