A five-year old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted and dumped in a semi-conscious state on a roadside here in the early hours today.
Police said a ragpicker has been arrested in connection with the case.
The incident occurred in K G Halli police station limits police said, adding, the girl was found by beat police patrolling the area.
The girl with bleeding head injuries was immediately rushed to the state-run Bowring hospital, officials added.
She has suffered several injuries.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Bengaluru) Hemanth Nimbalkar said in the evening that a 24-year-old ragpicker has been arrested in connection with the case.
Doctors treating the girl said she is currently under shock.
"The girl was admitted at about 3.45 AM at ourhospital. There are genital injuries like vaginal tear, herring finger had been amputated... There is also a scalp injury andshe is bleeding," Dr Manjunath told reporters here.
He said the girl was in shock and a bit disoriented. Prima facie it seemed like she has been sexually assaulted, he said, adding the sex abuse cell would conduct further tests in this regard and cometo a conclusion.
Stating that all her other health parameters arestable, doctors said the child is out of danger and isundergoing treatment at the paediatric intensive care unit.
Police had registered a case under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and had formed three teams, including a technical team and a special team under the supervision of Ajay Hilory DCP (Bengaluru East) to investigate the case.
Nimbalkar had earlier said after the doctors suspected sexual assault, the girl's mother was traced and following her statement a case was registered.
According to the mother the girl had gone out of the tent in which they were staying to attend to nature's call and did not return.
Minister for Bengaluru Development and Town Planning KJ George who visited the girl at the hospital called it a "heinous crime" and said the incident shames the entire society.
He said she would be provided the best medicaltreatment possible and police would investigate and take actionagainst the culprits at the earliest.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
