Namchi man arrested for alleged sexual assault of minor girl

A 22-year-old man from Manghim Rabitar, Namchi District, has been accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl over several days, leading to his arrest by the Melli Police Station on June 11, 2025. The case has ben registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.

The incident came to light when the girl’s father, a resident of Namchi District, filed a First Information Report (FIR) at Melli Police Station on June 11, 2025, at around 3:48 p.m. According to the FIR, the father reported that his eldest daughter, aged 15, did not return home on Saturday, June 7, 2025. The family initially assumed she was staying at a friend’s or relative’s house, as she often did for extended periods. The father said that he believed she would return soon and did not immediately report her absence.

On the morning of June 11, 2025, at around 9:00 a.m., the girl returned home accompanied by the accused, identified as Tikaram Chettri, also known as Kiran, a 22-year-old son of Kishor Chettri, also known as Hasta Bahadur, from Manghim Rabitar, Namchi District. When questioned by her father, the minor said that she had been kept at the house of Tikaram Chettri’s friend, Biba Hang Subba, for four days, from June 7 to June 11, 2025. During this time, she alleged that Tikaram Chettri sexually assaulted her multiple times.

The father immediately reported the matter to the police, leading to the registration of Melli P.S. Case No. 10/2025, dated June 11, 2025. The case has been filed under Sections 3(a), 4(2), 5(l), and 6 of the POCSO Act, 2012, which address penetrative sexual assault, aggravated penetrative sexual assault and related offenses against children. These sections carry severe penalties, including imprisonment for a minimum of several years, with the possibility of life imprisonment for the most serious charges, along with fines to cover the victim’s medical and rehabilitation expenses.

The Melli Police Station acted swiftly, taking Tikaram Chettri into custody on June 11, 2025. The police are currently investigating the case, gathering evidence, and interviewing witnesses to build a strong case against the accused. The minor has been sent for a medical examination to assess her condition and collect forensic evidence, as is standard procedure in POCSO cases. The police are also looking into the role of Biba Hang Subba, whose house was allegedly used as the location for the crime, to determine if there was any complicity or negligence.