Kerala Rape Case: UP police had booked Asafaq Alam in Pocso case in 2018 | Kochi News – Times of India

KOCHI: Ernakulam rural police said on Tuesday that Asafaq Alam, accused of sexually assaulting and killing a five-year-old child in Aluva, was booked by Ghazipur Police in Delhi for allegedly molesting a minor in 2018. Also, Alam was remanded in police custody for 10 days.

District police chief (Ernakulam Rural) Vivek Kumar said in the previous case, Alam was booked under Pocso Act and IPC Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to outrage modesty) and 354A (Sexual harassment of the nature of unwelcome physical contact and advances).
Kumar said that Alam was an under-trial prisoner in Delhi for a month after which he was released on bail. Then, he went into hiding.

The officer said that the case against Alam came to light after a search was conducted in National Crime Records Bureau’s database using the accused’s fingerprints. He added that there were no cases against Alam in his native place Bihar and his criminal history was being verified further.
On Monday, a test identification parade was held at Aluva sub-jail and three witnesses identified the accused. The witnesses are a headload worker and two others who saw him inside a bus. Kumar said that scientific evidence were already collected. “The investigation is progressing in the right direction. We will try to file the chargesheet as soon as possible,” he said.
Meanwhile, the special court hearing cases of atrocities and sexual violence against women and children granted the custody request submitted by the police.
The court granted Alam’s custody till 11am on August 10. Official sources said police sought more custody time to do a comprehensive background check; including his previous places of residence and arrival in state. It is learnt that Alam pleaded in court on Tuesday that he may be pardoned as it was his first offence.
Meanwhile, the court issued directives against the use of name, image or any other details that can compromise the identity of the victim.
Court is also learnt to have asked about the relevance of the identification parade when the accused’s image was already public.
Meanwhile, police are investigating the authenticity of Alam’s Aadhaar card. A police team will go to Bihar to verify it. MLA Anwar Sadat has written to the chief minister demanding adequate compensation or land for the child’s family.
(The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)