The incident occurred on Saturday, August 17, 2024, when the girl was sleeping with her mother on a footpath outside a temple. She was discovered on Sunday morning with injuries and bite marks, and a medical examination confirmed the assault.
The accused, Harish Sindhi, who operates a tea stall in the city, was found to be intoxicated at the time of the crime. He was arrested on Sunday, and police reported that his wife and son do not reside with him.
The girl was found wrapped in a red ‘odhani’ (stole) around 6:30 a.m. by a woman setting up her shop near the temple. CCTV footage revealed that Sindhi took the girl around 2 a.m. while she was sleeping with her parents.
The girl’s family, originally from Madhya Pradesh, lives in a slum in Jodhpur. Her mother, who is mentally ill, sits outside the temple with her five-year-old son.
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot condemned the incident, stating, “The rape of a three-year-old girl in Jodhpur is deeply disturbing and has sparked public outrage. Such crimes are creating an atmosphere of fear in Rajasthan. This situation reflects the growing boldness of criminals due to the weakening authority of the government and police.”
Gehlot criticized the increasing incidents of violence and the deteriorating law and order situation in Jodhpur, urging Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma to take immediate action to address the issue.
