The Puducherry police have arrested two persons in connection with the kidnap and rape of a 17-year-old girl near Villianur on Wednesday.
The main accused, Muthu, a conductor of a private bus, was arrested late Wednesday evening. The police identified the second person as Venkatachalapathy. Both have been booked under Sections 363 (Kidnapping) and 376 (Rape) of the Indian Penal Code, I.D. Shukla, DIG, said.
The victim had been missing since Tuesday evening and on the basis of her parents’ complaints, cases were registered at the Villianur Police Station and the Thirubhuvanai Police Station. She was found on Wednesday morning at the Villupuram bus stand, sources said.
On Wednesday afternoon, the 17-year-old was admitted to the Rajiv Gandhi Women and Child Hospital. She is now conscious and in a stable condition, according to the Medical Superintendent of the Hospital T.B. Kasthuri.
The girl told the doctors that an unknown man approached her while she was waiting at the Villianur Bus Stand after New Year prayers on Tuesday, and told her that her mother was sick and took her on a bus. Once she got into the bus, the man covered her mouth and she fell unconscious. When she regained her senses, she was in a dark room and another man escorted her to the Villupuram bus stand, from where she called her parents. She was brought immediately to the hospital and the hospital authorities alerted the police, Dr. Kasthuri said.
The doctors were conducting investigations and the girl would be kept overnight for observation, she said.
Addressing the media on Wednesday evening, Mr. Shukla said the Puducherry police had formed five teams along with the Tamil Nadu police to track down the perpetrators of the crime. Two teams were also working towards getting a complete statement from the victim.
If any lapses were found in the investigation of the missing cases that were registered on Tuesday, severe action would be taken, he said. Several political parties and activists gathered at the hospital to protest the alleged inaction by the police. Towards the evening, they staged a road roko and protest outside the hospital.
Sexual abuse
Special Correspondent from Salem writes:
Parents of four visually impaired girls, aged between 7 and 9 and studying in classes 1 and 3 in the Salem Government School for the Blind, have alleged that their daughters were being sexually abused.
The shocked parents from various parts of the city called up the toll-free phone number 1098 of Childline alleging that a 50-year old teacher in the school had been abusing the girls for quite some time. The incident was immediately conveyed to the officials of Child Welfare Committee who informed the Sevvapet Police for detailed enquiry.
“Their parents want their identities to be guarded. We have approached the senior police officials to undertake an immediate probe into the incident,” said A Xavier, chairman, Child Welfare Committee, Salem district.
P. Devaki, District Child Protection Officer, who conducted a detailed enquiry with girls and parents told The Hindu that she had preferred a complaint with the Sevvapet police based on the enquiry she held with two affected girls and their parents. “My enquiry suggests that there could be strong prima facie evidence against the accused,” she said.
One arrested
Special Correspondent from Thanjavur writes:
An 11-year-old girl, studying class VI, was allegedly raped by her relative-cum-neighbour, police said. Ramaiyan (55) of Orathanadu taluk was arrested for raping and threatening the girl against disclosing the crime.
Police said the girl was befriended by Ramaiyan while she was rearing cattle on a field and sexually assaulted her on December 22. The girl did not reveal the incident, but appeared unwell to her parents. When they took her to a doctor, it was revealed that she was sexually assaulted. Later on the information provided by the girl, the police arrested Ramaiyan on Wednesday. Cases were registered against him under sections 376 (rape) and 506(ii) of IPC for threatening to kill her if she revealed the matter.
However, the police did not invoke the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
Staff Reporter from Tirunelveli writes:
Three persons were arrested by the Kalakad police, on Wednesday, on charges of harassment.
According to the police, the victim was rearing cattle at Vaduvurpatti. The three, who were said to be drunk, picked up a quarrel with a man, who was accompanying his wife. The verbal duel turned into a scuffle and when the woman went to the rescue of her husband, they tore her dress. The husband and wife were injured and were admitted to Tirunelveli Government Hospital. Based on a complaint, the Kalakad police filed a case under Sections 294 (b), 323, 506 (ii) of IPC and Section 4 of Women Harassment Act. The arrested were P. Perinbanathan (33) of Ambedkar Nagar, Vadavurpatti, M. Subendran (21) and R. Mathan Sathyamurugan (18) of the same locality.
