Shocking Abduction, Rape, and Murder of a Minor Girl in Delhi; Online Taxi Driver Arrested 

Delhi: The Delhi Police have arrested a 25-year-old online taxi driver named Bablu for the brutal abduction, sexual assault, and murder of a minor girl. The victim’s family, originally from Bihar, had recently lost their rented home and was forced to live on the sidewalk in Mehraoli. The young girl helped support her daily wage earner parents and three siblings by selling balloons on the street. 

The crisis unfolded early Monday morning when the parents discovered the child was missing and filed a police complaint. By analysing local CCTV footage, investigators flagged the suspicious movements of a taxi driver. Within a tight four hour window, the police apprehended Bablu. Under interrogation, the suspect confessed to kidnapping the child from the sidewalk, driving her toward the Gurugram area where he sexually assaulted and murdered her, and discarding her body in a nearby forested stretch. 

Legal Significance 

This heinous crime invokes a combination of India’s stringent criminal laws designed to protect minors from sexual abuse and punish violent offences. Specifically, the prosecution will invoke Section 137 for kidnapping, Section 65 or Section 66 for aggravated penetrative sexual assault on a child under twelve years of age, and Section 103 for murder. Given the severity and vulnerability of the victim, these combined BNS charges permit the judiciary to award the maximum punishment, including the death penalty or rigorous life imprisonment without parole. 

Simultaneously, the accused will face prosecution under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. The acts committed attract Section 5 (Aggravated Penetrative Sexual Assault) and Section 6 of the POCSO Act, which strictly mandate severe punitive measures for violations against children under the age of twelve. 

📰 Source: Manorama Online (English)