A day after a German tourist was allegedly raped on the beach near Mamallapuram in Kancheepuram district, the police on Monday developed an image of the prime suspect and formed special teams to apprehend the two accused involved in the case. The victim who had undergone medical examination on Sunday planned to continue with her tour of the country. Meanwhile, officials of the Consulate of Germany met the victim at a resort where she was staying and extended assistance.
Talking to The Hindu , the victim, who had come to Mamallapuram with her friends, said she took a walk alone early on Sunday along the beach and reached a place behind a private resort. After a swim, she decided to rest. . “It was half past nine (in the morning) and I slept off. The place looked safe with some people visible at a distance. I woke up with two men standing in front of me…while one pinned me down, the other committed the offence. I screamed for help but it was of no use,” she said.
Traumatised by attack
Asked if she could identify the suspects, the victim said she vaguely remembered their faces as she was traumatised by the attack. “I have shared whatever I remembered with the police and they have made an image of the suspects. I have undergone medical examination once and that is enough…I don’t want to go again. I want to continue my tour,” she added.
The incident allegedly took place in broad daylight on the beach located some 9 kms ahead of Mamallapuram town. Though there was a private resort and a restaurant nearby, the staff employed there did not recall having seen or heard anything unusual. “This beach is open to public and inhabited by fishermen and tourists. At 9.30 a.m. there should have been movement of local fishermen in the area. The Marine Police also patrol the beach at regular intervals,” an employee of a private property in the area said.
The suspects might have made good their escape by vanishing into the Casuarina Grove to reach the East Coast Road or nearby fishing hamlets, police sources said adding that special teams were interrogating some suspects known to be frequenting the locality.
Special teams were sent to villages to check the movement of strangers and gather details of “suspicious” persons. Inspector-General of Police (North Zone) C. Sridhar who reviewed the progress of investigation said computer-aided portrait of the suspect was sent to all police stations.
The Mamallapuram All Women Police have registered a case under Section 323 (causing hurt) and 376-D (rape by one or more persons) against the two suspects.
