Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal

Bantwal, Aug 18: The Vittal police have arrested a 53-year-old man for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor boy on a bus and later threatening him at his residence. The accused has been identified as Umesh, a resident of Kondagayi in Vittal.

According to the police complaint, the incident began on August 15, when the minor boy was travelling by bus from Alike to Puttur within the Vittal police station limits. At the private bus stand in Vittal, an unidentified man boarded the bus and sat next to the boy. During the journey, the man allegedly behaved inappropriately with the minor.

The situation escalated after the boy alighted from the bus and returned home.

The accused followed him and allegedly appeared at his residence, where he subjected the boy to sexual harassment and issued threats, warning him not to disclose the incident to anyone.

Based on the complaint filed by the victim and his family, the Vittal police registered a case under section 4(2) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and section 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

The Vittal police swiftly took up the investigation and arrested the accused, Umesh. He was produced before a court, which remanded him to judicial custody.

Further investigation into the case is currently ongoing.