BHOPAL: A nine-year-old visually impaired student living at the Government Children with Special Needs (CWSN) Hostel in Damoh district of Madhya Pradesh was allegedly raped by the security guard.The alleged perpetrator, a 56-year-old watchman employed at the hostel, is accused of committing the act on November 26.

Sagar's Child Welfare Committee has taken charge of the investigation into this occurrence.The action was taken after the girl's mother lodged a formal complaint at the local police station on Tuesday evening.

Following this complaint, police apprehended the accused watchman, identified as Omprakash Tiwari, subsequent to obtaining a statement from the survivor.

He has been charged under section for the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.At present, the hostel, originally catering to 50 children, houses only 14 occupants.

The remaining children have returned to their respective homes.

After a break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the hostel had resumed operations merely two months ago.Narrating her ordeal, the victim shared that she was taken from her room while asleep.

She regained consciousness in another room and attempted to flee, but was forcibly confined by the watchman, who then committed the rape.

Following this incident, her mother, a laborer based in Delhi, immediately took her back home and together they reported the offense to the police.Confirming the case registration, police acknowledged the assault on a minor girl residing within a disabled hostel and said the accused has been taken into custody following a thorough investigation, and charges have been pressed under the provisions of the POCSO Act.(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault.)