The special investigation team (SIT) probing the alleged sexual assault and murder of a five-year-old migrant girl in Aluva has found that the accused, Asafaq Alam, has a case registered against him by the Delhi Police under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Speaking to the media at the Rural police headquarters, District Police Chief (Ernakulam Rural) Vivek Kumar said the case was registered by the Ghazipur Dairy Farm police in 2018. Apart from the POCSO Act, Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 354A (sexual harassment of the nature of unwelcome physical contact and advances or a demand or request for sexual favours or showing pornography) of the Indian Penal Code were invoked in that case.
Alam was an undertrial prisoner in Delhi for a month after which he was released, following which he absconded. “A search in the NCRB [National Crime Records Bureau] database using his fingerprints returned details about the 2018 case. No case has been reported in his home State of Bihar. We are further verifying his criminal antecedents,” said Mr. Kumar.
