Brutalised girl needs surgery; alleged rapist is absconding

An 18-year-old boy took advantage of an empty home last night and raped his four-and-half-year-old neighbour.

The boy, Bindu, a resident of Kherwadi in Bandra, lured Bina Sharma (name changed to protect identity) to his house under the pretext of mopping up some spilled water on the floor.

The incident took place at around 10 pm. Bindu was alone at home, as his father, a waiter, was at work and his mother had gone to Shirdi.

Shashi Sharma (name changed), the victim's father and a pani puri seller, said, "I was at my stall when my elder son came running and informed me about the incident.

It's very shocking to realise a neighbourhood boy could do something so monstrous to my daughter."

Broken: Shashi Sharma waits outside V N Desai municipal hospital, Santacuz, at 2.30 am with his youngest daughter (not the victim).