NOIDA: A 25-year-old delivery worker employed by an online grocery store in Noida has been apprehended by the local police on charges of attempting to sexually rape a 19-year-old girl within a high-rise residential complex in Noida Extension.
The suspect, identified as Sumit Sharma, hailing from Achheja village in Greater Noida, was taken into custody by the police.
According to Hirdesh Katheriya, the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police for Central Noida, the arrest took place on a Sunday morning in the Khairpur village area of Noida Extension. Subsequently,Sumit Sharma was brought to the Bisrakh police station by officers including Sinastha Chaudhary and SI Bharat Singh.
However, during the transfer near Sector-3 in Greater Noida, the accused managed to wrestle a pistol away from one of the sub-inspectors and fled.
“The police initiated a search operation in the area, and when Sumit Sharma noticed the police presence, he began firing at them. In the exchange of gunfire, a bullet from a police officer’s firearm struck the suspect’s leg, causing an injury. The police then encircled him and transported him to a nearby hospital for medical attention. He is currently in stable condition,” stated Katheriya.
The accused faces multiple charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 376 (pertaining to rape), 511 (attempting to commit offenses carrying life imprisonment or other penalties), 323 (voluntarily causing harm), 452 (house trespass with intent to inflict harm, assault, or unlawful restraint), and 506 (criminal intimidation), as filed by the Bisrakh police station.
The incident unfolded at 5:09 am on a Friday when the young woman placed an order for eggs, bread, and milk through an online grocery service. The accused, Sumit Sharma, arrived with the ordered items a short time later and forcibly entered the victim’s residence when she opened the door. He attempted to assault her, leading to a struggle. The victim raised an alarm near the drawing room balcony, prompting neighbors to rush to her aid. The assailant fled the scene at that point.
(The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)