Cleaner Accused of Raping 3-year-old Girl on Bus in India

A 45-year-old man has been accused of allegedly raping a 3-year-old girl in India. The incident occurred on the evening of Monday 5th March 2018, where the young girl was dragged inside the parked bus, just outside of Canal Road in north Kolkata.

The victim’s brother, aged 5, witnessed the disturbing scene. Hearing his sister’s screams, he repeatedly banged on the locked bus door and pleaded with the man, a cleaner, to stop what he was doing.

When the man refused, the boy immediately ran to find his mother, a widowed rag-picker.

The mother alerted the neighbours, who quickly rushed to the scene of the crime. They reportedly rescued the young girl from the accused’s grip and severely beat him up, before informing the police.

The child’s uncle is believed to have said:

“The little boy kept banging on the shut door, calling for his sister and crying that she be left alone. He then ran home and called his mother when he realised that the door would not open.”

It is thought that the young brother and sister were playing outside with a ball when it fell and landed near to the parked bus. As the girl went to pick up the ball, she was reportedly lured inside by the man who offered her a chocolate.

A senior officer of Kolkata Police confirmed that the accused, 45-year-old Sheikh Munna, has since been arrested.

According to NDTV, the senior police officer said: “We found the girl lying in a pool of blood on a bus seat. The child’s clothes were torn, and she was bleeding profusely, the accused had blood on his hands and trousers.’’

The officer added: “We are waiting for the report of the tests conducted on the girl to confirm rape. We are questioning the accused and our forensic experts have collected samples from the spot where the alleged incident took place.’’

The girl is currently being treated at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

One senior doctor said:

“She had bled profusely but her condition has improved since last night and possibly she will survive. Signs are clear that she had been brutalised.’’

According to doctors at the state-run medical facility, the young girl was bleeding heavily when she arrived at the hospital. She was immediately treated and cared for by Kolkata’s medical team.

While doctors have commented on the serious nature of her condition, they are hopeful that she will recover.