According to police, he used to lure children with chocolates and food, and take them to nearby forested areas where he sexually assaulted them. He used to later release the girls.After a spate of alleged sexual assault on minor girls within a fortnight in a village in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh, police have arrested a 32-year-old labourer.Police on Wednesday said that the accused, identified as Avinash Pandey, has confessed to kidnapping four girls from near their homes between June 25 and July 7. According to police, he used to lure children with chocolates and food, and take them to nearby forested areas where he sexually assaulted them. He used to later release the girls.The four girls are aged below 10 years.With little digital and forensic evidence in their hands, a five-member police team, formed to identify and arrest him, relied on the description of the man from the four girls.“It was the minute details provided by the victims — including a tattoo on his hand, short hair, alcohol consumption, medium build, long face, and the fact that he carried two mobile phones — that helped us identify the accused,” said a senior police officer involved in the probe.The girls described the accused as a medium-built man with a long face, dusky complexion, average height, who wore black jeans and a round-neck purple T-shirt. He had short hair, a light beard, slippers, and a tattoo on his hand.Based on the information provided by the girls, police prepared a sketch of the suspect and began their search for a person matching the description. CCTV footage from areas where the girls were either kidnapped or later recovered was closely examined. People with a history of similar offences were questioned, and cooperation from the public was sought.“During the investigation, we came across a man matching the given description. The suspect, identified as Avinash Pandey, was taken in for questioning.Story continues below this adHe was interrogated, and his mobile phone was examined. We discovered objectionable photos and videos of the victims on his device,” a police officer said.Police claim to have recovered the bicycle used in the crimes. “Accused Avinash Pandey has been found involved in four cases where the victims were minor girls,” said Additional Superintendent of Police (Bahraich) Durga Prasad Tewari.According to the police, Pandey is unmarried and has no prior criminal record.Pandey has been booked on charges of kidnapping, rape, and voluntarily causing hurt. He was produced before the court, which remanded him to judicial custody.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:UP PoliceUttar Pradesh