UP: Scientist arrested for attempting to rape minor girl in Agra

In a shocking incident, a 62-year-old scientist has been accused attempting to rape the six-year-old daughter of a junior scientist over a period of two months in Uttar Pradesh's Agra.

The accused has been identified as 58-year-old Vishnu Dutt Sharma, the head of the department of microbiology, who has been arrested on Monday.

According to the complaint filed by victim's parents that Sharma had been making advances towards their daughter for over the past two months. On Monday, he allegedly took the girl to the roof of the institute's residential wing.

The girl's mother said she called out to her daughter and when she did not get any reply she suspected something to be amiss. She went to the rooftop and saw Sharma attempting to rape the child. Sharma reportedly fled the spot and the girl's mother immediately disclosed the matter to the family.

On Tuesday, Sharma was sent to jail. He was booked under section 376 (rape) of IPC and section 3/4 of the POCSO Act.

Uttar Pradesh tops the list in crime against minors, with around 15% share of total crime against children in the country, it says.