A watchman of a housing complex in the Khadakpada area of Kalyan in Thane district of Maharashtra was arrested for allegedly molesting and sexually harassing a teenage girl in the building premises, police officials said on Saturday, reported the PTI.

The incident reportedly took place on Friday afternoon at around 2:30 pm, when the girl was near the lift lobby of the residential building.

“The 42-year-old accused allegedly touched the girl inappropriately and forcibly hugged her. When she managed to break free, he is said to have made lewd gestures at her,” a police official said, according to the PTI.

Residents of the society acted after the girl raised the alarm. They caught hold of the watchman and immediately handed him over to the police.

“Immediately after learning about the incident, the residents of the society caught hold of the watchman and handed him over to the police,” he said.
Based on the complaint lodged by the victim, the accused was immediately arrested, the police official said.

A case was registered against him under section 74 (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and also the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Act at the Khadakpada police station and investigation is underway.

Further investigations were underway, police said.

Meanwhile, in an another incident, a dead body of a 17-year-old girl was found floating in a lake in Thane district on Saturday morning, police said, according to the PTI.

After being alerted, the police rushed to the spot and retrieved the body of the teenager.

The deceased was a resident of Kamathghar in Bhiwandi, from the Varhaladevi lake and sent it for post-mortem, an official said.

The police are trying to determine the circumstances leading to the girl`s death, said the official from the Bhiwandi Town police station.

“At this stage, it is unclear whether it is a case of suicide or something else. We have registered an accidental death report (ADR) and further investigation is in progress,” the police official said.

(with PTI inputs)

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