Four-year-old sexually assaulted in Delhi

A four-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by her neighbour in the national capital, police said Friday. The accused has been arrested.

The incident was reported from the Punjabi Bagh area in west Delhi and the accused Naresh, 21, was arrested Thursday.

"The medical examination of the girl confirmed sexual assault and, based on that, Naresh was arrested. He has been sent to judicial custody," a police officer said.

The accused has been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.

The act provides protection to all children under 18 years from offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography. It provides for stringent punishments, which have been graded as per the gravity of the offence.

Former chief of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Shanta Sinha said the incident was "shameful".

"It is really sad and shameful that sexual abuse and assault continue to be perpetrated on children in the country, specially in the national capital Delhi," Sinha told IANS.

"I wish the authorities ensure that all procedures are followed under POCSO, the identity of the child is kept confidential. The culprit should be brought to justice," she said.