PESHAWAR: Peshawar police on Saturday announced the arrest of an 18-year-old youth in the provincial capital's Bahana Mari area over the sexual abuse of a six-year-old girl.

The youth came under suspicion when his neighbours saw him take the girl into his residence on Wednesday, following which they raised a hue and cry and handed the youth over to the police.

Bahana Mari police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the youth on Friday and made his arrest public in a press conference today.

Station House Officer (SHO) Bahana Mari Wajid Ali Shah said the youth had confessed to abusing the minor. The SHO did not specify whether the girl was raped.

Police have opened an investigation into the matter and the accused will be presented in court for further proceedings.

Read more: Peon at private school in Islamabad held for attempted rape of minor

Three-year-old 'kidnapped' from hospital

A three-year-old child admitted to the Khyber Teaching Hospital is feared to have been kidnapped from within the institution's premises on Saturday, police suspect.

Sacha Khan Akbar brought the child to Peshawar for treatment from Kohat. The toddler was admitted to the nursery ward and went missing early Saturday morning.

An FIR on the incident was lodged at the local police station.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Omar Farooq confirmed that the child was brought to the hospital by Sacha Khan for treatment and went missing today.

CCTV footage acquired by police shows the suspect may be an unidentified woman. Police are investigating the incident.

Read more: Kidnap victim blames his ordeal on ‘girlfriend’