The Punakha police on May 31 arrested a 71-year-old man on suspicion of sexually assaulting his step-granddaughter, a minor. 

The exact day of when the incident is not known, but according to sources, the accused had sexually abused the victim about a month ago. The mother had left her and her father. She was living with her father and stepmother in Punakha.

The victim and her four stepsisters were living in a house near the school, which belonged to a 65-year-old woman. The accused was their guardian.

The 65-year-old woman had heard the victim’s cries at night and found out, in the morning, that she was abused. The woman then called the father of the victim to inform about the incident, but he had ignored it. 

Following a verbal argument with the woman and the accused,  the four granddaughters moved out to another house.  The victim continued living with the woman 65-year-old man.

The incident was reported to the police by RENEW.