Ahmedabad: A 23-year-old man has been arrested in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, for allegedly sexually assaulting a seven-year-old boy on the rooftop of a mosque after luring him there under the pretext of teaching him namaz, police said. Officials said the incident occurred at Makhdoom Saheb Mosque in the Jamalpur area, following which the accused was arrested immediately.
The accused, identified as local resident Noman Sheikh, allegedly took the child to the mosque rooftop in the afternoon on the pretext of offering prayers. Police said he remained there with the boy for around 15–20 minutes during which the assault allegedly took place. The minor is reported to be in critical condition and is currently receiving treatment at a hospital, officials added.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the accused had previous assault cases registered against him, police said.
Police reconstructed the sequence of events, outlining how the accused allegedly used the pretext of teaching prayers to carry out the assault. Local residents expressed strong outrage and assisted authorities during the reconstruction process.
A case has been registered, and the accused has been taken into custody, with police preparing the panchnama (inquest report) related to the incident.
Officials said the investigation is ongoing to determine the full extent of the accused’s criminal background, while assuring that the child will receive comprehensive medical treatment and psychological support.
