A Rewa POCSO case saw police arrest a 26-year-old man accused of abducting an eight-year-old girl with the lure of chocolates and sexually assaulting her before she was rescued within hours.

Complaint Filed by Family

A 26-year-old man has been arrested in Madhya Pradesh's Rewa district for allegedly abducting and sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl after luring her with chocolates, police said. The accused was traced and arrested nearly 10 days after the incident through technical surveillance and identification based on eyewitness descriptions.

The case came to light after the victim's mother lodged a complaint at University Police Station on June 3, alleging that her daughter had been taken away by an unidentified man from a local park.

Child Taken From Park

According to the complaint, the girl was playing at Mangalam Park when the accused allegedly approached her, offered chocolates, and convinced her to accompany him. Police said he then took the child away on a motorcycle.

Given the seriousness of the complaint, district police launched an immediate search operation and alerted teams across the city. Barricades were set up at key locations while officers began tracing the suspect's movements.

Rescue Within Hours

Officials said the child was located and rescued safely within about two hours of the abduction. She was subsequently reunited with her family.

At the time of the rescue, the primary focus remained on ensuring the child's safety and identifying the suspect. However, further developments emerged during the legal and counselling process that followed.

Assault Allegations Surface

Police said details of the alleged sexual assault emerged during counselling conducted before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). The victim's statement was later recorded before the court, where she reportedly disclosed the abuse.

Following the revelations, investigators added charges related to rape and provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act to the existing case.

The development significantly expanded the scope of the investigation, prompting police to intensify efforts to locate the accused.

Technical Probe Leads Police

Investigators continued tracking the suspect using technical evidence, local intelligence inputs, and descriptions provided during the inquiry. Police teams reportedly examined multiple leads over the following days.

On June 13, officers detained a suspect matching the profile developed during the investigation. During questioning, he was identified as Sarvesh Nikhil Dwivedi, 26, a resident of Luk village under Jawa police station limits in Rewa district.

Accused Sent to Jail

Police officials said the accused allegedly confessed to his involvement during interrogation. The motorcycle believed to have been used in the crime has also been seized as part of the investigation.

After completing initial legal formalities, police produced the accused before a court, which remanded him to judicial custody. He has since been sent to jail.

Authorities said further investigation is underway to establish the complete sequence of events and gather additional evidence related to the case.

Concern Over Child Safety

The incident has once again highlighted concerns over crimes against children and the methods often used by offenders to gain a child's trust. Police have urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and educate children about personal safety and interactions with strangers.

Officials said the investigation remains ongoing under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the POCSO Act.