The ATM at SK Puri where the incident occurred on Monday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

A private security guard allegedly molested a minor in the SK Puri area while her grandmother was taking a stroll inside a park nearby.

Residents told the police that Krishna Prasad (40), deputed to guard the automated teller machine (ATM) kiosk of a nationalised bank, was a habitual offender.

The six-year-old girl’s grandmother told the police that she regularly visited the park with her. Around 8.30am on Monday, she left her rented house near SK Puri Children’s Park for her morning walk. While she went inside the park, the girl decided to stroll outside.

Finding the girl alone, the guard allegedly dragged her inside the ATM kiosk and molested her. The elderly woman suddenly saw her granddaughter screaming near the ATM kiosk. Her cries drew other morning-walkers.

Apprehending trouble, the guard tried to flee but was caught. Some morning-walkers and passers-by beat him up before handing him over to the police. “The accused was saved from mob fury because of timely intervention of the police,” SK Puri police station house officer (SHO) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar said.

“We have summoned the proprietor of the security agency that employed him and asked him to furnish details, such as the guard’s address and the period he has worked for the agency,” the SHO told The Telegraph.

The girl’s grandmother reportedly told the police: “I had often engaged in small talk with the guard. I never suspected he would try to molest my granddaughter.”

SHO Vidyasagar said a complaint was lodged on the basis of the elderly woman’s statement and the guard was arrested. “Residents complained that the guard had committed similar offences in the past, but no complaints had been lodged,” he said.

Patna senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaj said SHOs had been told to verify if private security agencies were checking the antecedents of the guards they offer jobs to.