Man kisses minor, offers chocolate & proposes in Kharagpur lift – POCSO case filed

In Kharagpur, a man allegedly kissed a 15-year-old girl in a lift, offered her chocolate, and made inappropriate proposals. According to the complaint filed by the girl’s mother, the incident occurred when the victim was returning home from school. As the two entered the lift together, the accused reportedly handed the girl a chocolate and kissed her on the cheek while repeatedly saying “I like you.” He then allegedly made an inappropriate proposal, urging the girl to keep the incident a secret and not inform her mother. As the victim exited the lift, the accused allegedly inquired about her opinion on the incident and urged her to share her thoughts the following day.

The victim, feeling uncomfortable and disturbed, shared the incident with her mother immediately after returning home. The mother stated that this was not the first time the accused had engaged in such behavior. She claimed that a similar incident occurred previously, where the accused had tried to get physically close to her daughter inside the lift, offering her chocolate as a pretext. According to the mother, after the first incident, she had confronted the accused, but no further action was taken at the time.

Following the most recent incident, the victim’s mother filed a complaint with the local police, requesting immediate action against the accused. The police have registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The investigation is being conducted by the Kharagpur Town Women’s Police Station. However, despite several days passing since the incident, the accused remains at large, and his identity has not been confirmed by the police.

The police are actively investigating the case, collecting evidence, and speaking with potential witnesses. In the meantime, local residents have raised concerns about the safety of children in the area, citing the recurrence of such incidents. They have urged the police to take swift and decisive action to apprehend the accused. The police have stated that they are working to identify the individual and ensure the safety of the community, while also vowing to take appropriate legal action against those found guilty.