78-year-old man sexually harasses minor

A 78-year-old man allegedly sexually harassed a 14-year-old girl at a village in Chinyalisaur area of Uttarkashi district.

The accused Banchu Lal perpetrated the crime on several occasions when the teenager's parents were out leaving the children at home, Dharasu Police Station in-charge Ravindra Yadav said today.The accused used to shut two younger sisters of the victim in one room and take her to another to commit the crime, Yadav said quoting from a complaint lodged by the victim's father at the police station



yesterday.

Banchu Lal also warned the victim of dire consequences if she disclosed the matter to anyone.However, the matter came to light when one of the younger sisters told her parents about what the old man used to do with them in their absence, the official said.

Banchu Lal has been booked under 354 A (sexual harassment) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC and section 7/8 of the POCSO Act, he said.

The matter is being investigated and a search is on to nab the accused, Yadav said.