A sixth-grade girl was sexually assaulted inside a shop in Sadar Bazar, New Delhi, after the accused allegedly lured her in, restrained her, and tied her hands and legs, police confirmed on Monday, 21 September 2026. The accused, identified as 56-year-old Maqsood, has been arrested and sent to judicial custody.

How the Incident Unfolded

According to police, the minor had stepped out of her home at around 11 pm on the night of 16 September to buy stationery items. She was allegedly lured into a nearby shop by the accused, where she was restrained and sexually assaulted. Police received a PCR call the same night reporting the assault.

Teams from PS Sadar Bazar, along with the Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) of Sadar Bazar and the Women Police Station, immediately reached the site and initiated action, officials said.

Case Registered, Accused in Custody

Based on the survivor's complaint, a case was registered at the Women Police Station, North District, under relevant sections of law, including provisions related to rape, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and wrongful confinement. The accused was arrested and sent to judicial custody on the same day following due legal process. Further investigation is reportedly underway.

Part of a Disturbing Pattern in Delhi

This incident follows a separate and deeply disturbing case reported on 13 September, when the severely decomposed body of a teenage girl was discovered near a field along Kushak Road in the Swaroop Nagar area of North Delhi. According to police, the condition of the body was such that investigators could not initially determine the victim's gender.

Police said the victim had been travelling with the accused — four persons, including three juveniles — in a tempo. The group allegedly consumed alcohol during the journey before the girl was sexually assaulted, stabbed to death, and her body abandoned in an open field. Parts of the decomposed body were subsequently found to have been consumed by stray dogs, police said. All four accused were arrested following a thorough investigation.

Rising Concern Over Child Safety in the Capital

Critics and child rights advocates argue that the frequency of such cases points to systemic failures in both street-level policing and community vigilance. The back-to-back incidents in North Delhi have drawn renewed attention to the safety of minors in public spaces, particularly after late hours. Authorities have not yet indicated whether enhanced night patrolling or targeted surveillance measures are being deployed in the affected areas.

Both cases remain under active investigation, with police expected to file charge sheets upon completion of the process.