The accused, Mohammed Rashid, a resident of Collin Street in Central Kolkata, was arrested on May 10. He has been remanded in police custody for seven days.

The victims, who lived on streets and spent their nights at a shelter home of an NGO. One of the victims was abandoned by her family members, while the other is a resident of Rafi Ahmed

Kidwai Road. The girls told the NGO officials during a counselling session recently that Rashid assaulted them in his house several times during the last few weeks. “ Rashid used to allure the minor girls with money to sexually abuse them,” said Jawed Shamim, Deputy Commissioner (Detective Department).

Sabita Agarwal, senior programme associate of the NGO, had lodged a complaint with the Park Street police station on April 22 in this regard, following which an inquiry was ordered. During investigation, the victims told the police that Rashid had raped them. Subsequently, the accused was arrested.