Goa Police Arrest Suspect in Disturbing Case of Child Sexual Assault
A 28-year-old man has been arrested in Goa for the alleged sexual assault of a 3-year-old girl after a thorough investigation.
Mapusa, Goa, November 11 (Daily Kiran) : In Mapusa, Goa, local police have apprehended a 28-year-old man in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a three-year-old girl. The case, which initially lacked crucial information, was described by authorities as a “blind case.”
On November 9, 2026, a complaint was filed at the Mapusa police station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Goa Children Act, and the POCSO Act, alleging that an unidentified individual had sexually assaulted the minor.
The suspect has been identified as Pundalik Kariyappa Gudge, a resident of Mapusa who hails from the Hubballi area in Karnataka’s Dharwad district.
During the investigation, police conducted a thorough analysis of CCTV footage and utilized human intelligence to gather vital leads. They first identified the girl and her family, then pieced together the events of the day she went missing from her father.
Reports indicate that a dispute occurred near the Mapusa taxi stand, where the girl, her father, and some acquaintances were present. Investigators scrutinized all individuals at the scene, leading to the identification of a suspect whose image matched that captured in the CCTV footage. The footage showed the suspect leading the girl into an alley where the alleged crime took place.
Following the incident, the suspect fled the Mapusa bus stand area while others remained. A joint team from the district police and crime branch launched an extensive search across markets, bus stations, and railway stations statewide. After approximately 36 hours, the suspect was spotted in Panaji and subsequently arrested.
The suspect was presented in court on Wednesday, where he was remanded to five days of police custody. Authorities report that during questioning, he confessed to the crime. However, the investigation continues as police aim to gather additional evidence and confirm all aspects of the case.
Goa police are committed to collecting all necessary evidence to file a robust charge sheet in court and expedite the trial process. The operation was led by the Mapusa police station and the northern district police, under the supervision of Superintendent of Police Rahul Gupta (IPS) and other senior officials.
