MUZAFFARABAD: A 60 years old man was remanded in police custody for hve days by a local judicial magistrate in the town of Dadyal in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Friday after being arrested on charges ofsexually assaulting a minor and allegedly recording inappropriate footage.

According to Rashid Habib Masoodi, Station House Officer (SHO) of Dadyal, the alleged incident was reported to them on July 14 by a 14-year-old boy accompanied by his elderbrother.

The victim, a resident of Mohra Kanyal village, alleged that a local shopkeeper, Ikram Ghauri, had picked him up from the market on his motorcycle the previous day and taken him to his residence in New Town Auna, where the alleged assault occurred.

After the act, the accused reportedly asked the boy to take a bath and then entered the bathroom himself.

At that point, a second man, identified by the boy as Waqas Jutt, allegedly entered and recorded a video of them.

The boy further informed police that Jutt later dropped him home,after which he shared the ordeal with his elder brother.

He also alleged that this was not the first instance of abuse, and that the main accused had assaulted him twice previously and had since been blackmailing him.

SHO Masoodi said a case had been registered under Section 377A (1) of the Azad Penal Code, and the main suspect was arrested from his residence the other day.

`Although the child stated that Waqas helpe d him leave the house, we have kept him under observation in view of the statement and the circumstances` the SHO said.

The remand, granted by a local judicial magistrate, will allow investigatorsunder the supervision of Deputy Superintendent of Police (SP) Dadyal Syed Ishtiaq Gilani-to pursue the case thoroughly and collect further evidence.

SHO Masoodi reiterated that the AJK police had been maintaining a zero-tolerance policy towards crimes against children and were committed to ensuring justice for victims and their families.

`All legal support is being extended to the victim and his family. The investigation will be concluded on merit without any external pressure,` he said.