TNN

New Delhi, Apr 6: A 40-year-old man has been arrested by Delhi Police for allegedly raping his four-year-old daughter in Seemapuri area of north-east Delhi late on Saturday night. The victim, in a state of shock, is being kept sedated on the advice of doctors. The police have also contacted an NGO which works with rape and trauma victims to help the child. A case has been registered based on the medical reports of the victim.

According to the police, Mohammad Sajjad (name changed) had been married for 15 years and fathered four children when he decided to take up work in Ahmedabad four years ago. He worked as a contractor in a construction company there. However, he lost his job recently and returned to Delhi. "When Sajjad left for Ahmedabad, the couple's youngest child was a newborn," said a senior police officer.

When Sajjad left for Gujarat, he went without letting either his wife's or his own family know. For four years, the family had no idea where he was. "When he came back from Ahmedabad a few days ago, he tried to contact his family members and then went to meet them," added a police official.

After a few meetings and with the consent of both Sajjad and his wife's family, it was decided that Sajjad would take care of the four children and wife he had abandoned. Local residents and the pradhan of the area were also consulted about the new arrangement. On Saturday afternoon, Sajjad took his four children to his elder brother's house in Seemapuri while his wife stayed with her sister nearby, added the police.

Late on Saturday night, one of Sajjad's daughter went running to her mother and told her that Sajjad "had done something" to her younger sister. When Sajjad's wife and daughter rushed back, they found the four year-old lying on the floor in an unconscious state. They immediately alerted other family members after which Sajjad was caught. A medical examination at the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital confirmed sexual assault. DCP (northeast) S S Yadav said, "We have arrested the father after the medical test confirmed sexual assault. There were other evidences also to link the father with the crime."

Police added that there were injury marks on the body of the victim and her lips and nose were swollen. Meanwhile, a case under section 376 (rape) has been registered at Seemapuri police station.