Akarapada is a revenue village under Jajpur police station. Some Scheduled
caste people live in that village with other communities. Sony Mallik, daughter
of Harihara Mallik is a 10 year old girl belonging to Scheduled Caste
community. On 27.11.2022, Sony went to the betel shop near their house to
fetch some commodities. It was around 12.30 during the day and the place was
lonely at that time. The shopkeeper, Shambhunath Mahalik taking advantage of
the deserted situation took Sony to the back of his shop and assaulted her with
aggravated penetrative sexual assault. Due to delay in return of the child, her
elder sister, Sumi (name changed) went to the shop to look for her; as she
reached the shop, the accused left the little girl. Sumi asked what he was doing;
Sambhunath slapped her. Both the sisters returned home and narrated all these
incidents. The father and mother of the child went as soon as possible and
reported the matter in Jajpur police station. The complaint was registered as
Jajpur PS case no 432 dated 27.11.2022 under Sections 376(A), 376(B), 323
IPC, 3(2)(v) SC & ST PoA Act with 4(2), 6 POCSO Act. Some local residents
said, with the condition of not revealing their names, that the incident is true
because the shopkeeper is constantly engaged in such activities; he should be
punished.