Three minor boys held for sexually assaulting 10-yr-old

Palghar: A 10-year-old boy was allegedly sexually assaulted by three minor boys at Nala Sopara area in the district, police said today.

The three accused, aged 14, 15 and 16, allegedly took the victim, who stayed in their neighbourhood in Nala Sopara, to a room at a chawl on December 17 last year.

While two of the accused held the minor boy, another accused sexually assaulted him, Assistant Police Inspector H S Jadhav said based on a complaint filed by the victim’s parents on Friday.

As per police, the shocked boy initially did not reveal about the incident to his family. However, he later mustered courage and informed his parents following which they lodged a police complaint two days ago.

Police then charged the three accused under sections 377 (unnatural offences), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 504 of the IPC and also sections 4,6 and 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Act, police said.

The three accused were subsequently taken into custody and produced before a juvenile court. They are presently lodged at a remand home in Bhiwandi, police added.