Beed Police Detain Teenager for Alleged Rape of Toddler Before Fatal Drowning Incident
In a distressing case from Maharashtra, the Beed district police have detained a 16-year-old boy for allegedly sexually assaulting a two-and-a-half-year-old girl approximately one week prior to her tragic drowning death on March 17. The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community and prompted a thorough investigation by authorities.
Discovery of Assault Through Autopsy Findings
The horrific crime came to light only after a post-mortem examination of the toddler's body revealed clear signs of sexual assault that had occurred over a week before her demise. Beed Superintendent of Police Navneet Kanwat stated that the medical findings prompted immediate action. "Based on the medical report, our teams contacted the child's parents, who were completely unaware that their daughter had been assaulted," an investigating officer revealed.
Further medical opinions confirmed the sexual assault, leading police to launch a fresh investigation to determine whether the child had been murdered. However, subsequent probe findings indicated that the toddler had accidentally fallen into a water tank near her home while playing outside and died due to drowning.
Investigation and Confession
Following these developments, police teams established a camp in the village to gather local intelligence and inputs. During their inquiry, officers learned that a teenage boy in the community had been exhibiting unusual behavior—crying continuously and refusing to eat for three days.
This suspicious behavior led investigators to bring the teenager in for questioning, where he subsequently confessed to the crime. According to SP Kanwat, "Our probe established that the child accidentally fell into the water tank while playing outside her house and died due to drowning. However, during our investigation, we discovered the prior sexual assault."
Legal Proceedings and Evidence
An FIR has been registered against the juvenile under relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The accused was produced before the Child Welfare Committee, which remanded him to a juvenile home as per legal procedures.
Investigators have also recorded statements from eyewitnesses who corroborated the teenager's confession. According to police findings, the suspect allegedly lured the toddler by offering her chocolates, took her on his motorcycle to a secluded location, and sexually assaulted her.
The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy in accordance with Supreme Court directives regarding cases of sexual assault.
