In Maharashtra's Thane city, a case has been lodged by the police against an individual for allegedly subjecting a 13-year-old girl to harassment and persistent stalking, as confirmed by an official on Monday.
The girl, who resides in the Wagle Estate locality, initiated the contact several months ago by creating an account on an instant messaging application using her mother's mobile phone. She accepted a friend request from the accused, as detailed in the FIR reported by the official from the Srinagar police station in Thane.
Subsequently, the two engaged in messaging and conversations through the platform. Disturbingly, the accused took to stalking the girl on occasion and made unsettling promises, asserting that he intended to marry her once she reached the age of 18. Additionally, the official stated that the accused engaged in inappropriate physical contact with her.
When the girl failed to reciprocate to his advances, the accused resorted to self-harm, slashing his wrist with a blade. Furthermore, he went to the extent of sending explicit photographs of himself to the young girl, compounding her distress and discomfort.
Due to the incessant harassment she endured, the girl's health deteriorated on multiple occasions, prompting her to seek help from the police. It was on Sunday that she formally lodged a complaint, leading to the registration of an FIR against the accused.
The charges filed against the accused encompass several sections of the Indian Penal Code, specifically 354D, which pertains to stalking, and 366A, which addresses the procurement of a minor girl. Additionally, provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Information Technology Act have been invoked in response to this distressing situation.
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