Belagavi: Moulvi arrested two years after sexual assault on five-year-old girl inside mosque

The crime dates back to October 5, 2023, when the accused allegedly attempted to assault the minor girl inside the mosque. The incident came to light after an activist Puneet Kerehalli shared an audio clip and video snippet on X (formerly Twitter), showing suspicious behavior by the accused

Belagavi: A disturbing case of attempted sexual assault on a 5-year-old girl by a maulvi in a mosque under the Muragaod police station limits has surfaced two years after the incident occurred. The accused, Tufail Ahmed Dadapir (34), was arrested by Belagavi police after video evidence of the crime went viral on social media.

The crime dates back to October 5, 2023, when the accused allegedly attempted to assault the minor girl inside the mosque. The incident came to light after an activist Puneet Kerehalli shared an audio clip and video snippet on X (formerly Twitter), showing suspicious behavior by the accused.

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Belagavi Superintendent of Police Dr. Bhimashankar Guled stated that upon receiving the information, the Cyber, Economic, and Narcotics (CEN) police immediately launched an investigation. The video revealed that the accused, a welder by profession, had visited the mosque from Mahalingpur and stayed at a relative’s house nearby.

Initially, the victim’s family did not file a police complaint due to pressure from local mosque authorities. However, after the video went viral, the Child Protection Unit intervened and registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Tufail Ahmed Dadapir, who worked as a welder, frequently visited mosques to deliver religious speeches when unemployed. Police confirmed that he had no prior criminal record, but his actions in this case have sparked outrage.

The Muragaod police arrested the accused late Tuesday night. A special investigation team has been formed to ensure a thorough probe. Authorities are also examining whether mosque officials attempted to suppress the case.