Man accused of sexually assaulting minor stepdaughters held after encounter

AGRA: A 45-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting his two minor stepdaughters was arrested after a brief police encounter in Muzaffarnagar, police said on Friday.The man’s wife lodged a complaint on Thursday alleging that her husband had been sexually assaulting her daughters, aged 15 and 12.After a medical examination, an FIR was registered under BNS section 64(2)(f) (rape committed by a person who is a relative, guardian of the woman) and relevant provisions of the Pocso Act.Police said the man was jailed in 2023 for raping the elder stepdaughter and was released two months ago. The wife and her two daughters had moved to another village, but the accused contacted them. He sexually abused the younger daughter when the wife was not at home. Police formed teams to trace the accused and spotted him near a canal on Thursday. “When asked to stop, he tried to flee and opened fire at the police team, which retaliated in self-defence. The man suffered a bullet injury on a leg, and was admitted to hospital,” the DSP said.A country-made pistol, one live cartridge and a spent shell were recovered from his possession.