Bid to sexually abuse girl in Jalandhar, migrant accused nabbed

Amid a growing resentment against the migrants in Hoshiarpur, its ripple effect was seen in the Preet Nagar locality here too where a labourer was allegedly caught trying to sexually assault a four-year-old girl.

Another related news: Migrants face backlash after child’s murder, villagers take out march

The girl had reportedly just returned from her school when he was escorted by accused Vijay Kumar, a neighbour, to his room. Mohalla residents alleged that he was spotted by the girl's mother as he was attempting to undress the girl. The girl's mother raised the alarm, prompting residents to gather in large numbers and overpower the accused, tying him to a pole.

The residents and the girl's mother used slippers to beat up Vijay Kumar. In his defence, the accused said the girl was thirsty when she reached back from the school and he had taken her along just to offer her water. He said he was married and had 10-year-old daughter and had no bad intention against the minor. SHO Division No. 8 Yadwinder Singh reached the spot and arrested the accused. He was booked under the POCSO Act.

Soon after the incident, the entire locality raised slogans, demanding that the migrants be shifted out. "We do not want them in our neighbourhood. They are indulging in heinous crimes and are a threat to our children and society. We all know how a five-year-old boy had been abducted, assaulted and murdered in Hoshiarpur last week. We cannot tolerate more such threatening incidents", the men and women in the locality alleged.

MP Singh, a local activist who runs a coaching centre too, has already started raising the issue on social media. "The growing migrant population needs to be checked. All those who have been providing rented accommodation to migrants without getting their ID proofs also must be acted against", he demanded.