The Paud police in Pune on Tuesday arrested a 28-year-old ice cream vendor on charges of molesting a 14-year-old girl in a village under Mulshi taluka. The incident took place on Monday evening when the suspect, identified as Pintu Shivkumar, approached the minor and her cousin while selling ice cream door-to-door on his two-wheeler.
Details of the Incident
According to a police officer, the suspect currently resides in Sus but is originally from Kannauj district in Uttar Pradesh. On Monday, when he visited the girl's village, she and her cousin approached him to buy ice cream. While handing over the ice cream, the vendor allegedly touched the girl inappropriately. The girls immediately raised an alarm and fled towards the girl's home. The suspect also escaped from the scene.
Arrest and Legal Action
The girl narrated her ordeal to her parents, who launched a search for the suspect and managed to nab him. They later handed him over to the Paud police. The police have registered a case against Pintu Shivkumar under Section 74 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 8 (sexual assault) and 12 (sexual harassment) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Investigation Underway
The officer confirmed that the girl's medical examination has been conducted. Police are currently collecting evidence and interrogating the suspect to ascertain further details. The investigation is ongoing.
