18-Year-Old Arrested for Assaulting Minor Girl at Garba Pandal in Palghar

An 18-year-old man was arrested for allegedly dragging a 17-year-old girl out of a Garba pandal and assaulting her during the Navratri festival in Maharashtra’s Palghar district, police said on Wednesday.

The incident took place on Monday night in the Nalasopara East area, where the girl was attending a Garba event at Santosh Bhuvan. A purported video of the assault subsequently went viral on social media, drawing attention to the incident.

According to Inspector Sachin Kamble of the Pelhar police station, the accused and the girl were previously acquainted. However, she had stopped talking to him before the incident.

Citing the first information report (FIR), the police officer said the accused arrived at the Garba event where the teenager was present. He allegedly dragged her out of the venue and brutally assaulted her.

Following the circulation of the video on social media, police launched efforts to identify and trace the accused. The investigation led to his arrest, Kamble said.

The accused has been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the officer added.

The police are continuing their investigation into the incident. Further details regarding the circumstances of the assault and the subsequent legal proceedings are awaited.