'My daughter would have been dead by now': When a ‘monkey attack’ in UP foiled man’s bid to rape 6-year old girl

MEERUT: A troop of monkeys purportedly intervened to save a 6-year-old girl, a UKG student, from a rape attempt in Baghpat. Following her parents' complaint, the unidentified accused was charged under the Pocso Act and is on the run, police said on Sunday.
The girl's parents claimed that a man had lured their child to an abandoned house on Saturday, where he took off her clothes and was attempting to sexually assault her, when a few monkeys aggressively rushed towards him, forcing him to leave the minor and flee.After reaching home, the traumatised child narrated her ordeal to her family and informed them how the monkeys "saved her from the accused".
Her father said, "My daughter was playing outside when the accused took her away. The man could be seen in nearby CCTV footage, walking on a narrow lane with my daughter. He is yet to be identified though. He also threatened my child that he would kill me... My daughter would have been dead by now if the monkeys had not intervened."
Baghpat circle officer Harish Bhadoria told TOI: "We've heard about the incident involving monkeys and are investigating the matter. Following the parents' complaint, an FIR was registered under BNS sections 74 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 76 (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe) and the Pocso Act. More sections will be added if needed. We're trying to identify and nab the accused."
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)