8 arrested for raping, trafficking of minor girl for over 5 months in Karnataka’s Chikkamagaluru

Mangalore Today News Network

Chikkamagaluru, Feb 02, 2021:    Eight persons have been arrested for the rape, sexual abuse and trafficking of a 15-year-old girl for over five months in Karnakta’s Chikkamagaluru district. Aunt of the rape survivor is among the eight arrested, police said.

 

A first information report was registered on January 30 at the Sringeri police station in Chikkamagaluru after a complaint by the district child welfare committee chairman accused more than 17 people of rape and sexual abuse of the 15-year-old girl.

Additional SP Sriti told India Today TV, “A 15-year-old girl was raped and sexually abused by 17 men for five months. The victim’s aunt is the main accused in this case.”

The police official said the rape survivor was working in a stone crushing unit when she was acquainted with one Girish, a bus driver, who raped and sexually abused her.

“He [Girish] then gave her number to one Small Abhi who also raped the minor girl. Abhi took photos, made videos, and used these to blackmail the minor. Later, his friends also raped the girl,” the police said.

Police said the rape survivor used to live with her aunt after her mother died three years ago. The aunt of the 15-year-old was arrested as she had known about the repeated sexual abuse.

The accused have been identified as Small Abhi, Girish, Vikas, Manikanta, Sampath, Ashwathgowda, Rajesh, Amith, Santhosh, Deekshith, Santhosh, Niranjan, Narayana Gowda, Abhi Gowda, Yogeesh, minor’s aunt, and the owner of the MGR crusher.

They have been booked under sections 201, 370 (trafficking), 376 (3), 376 (n) of the Indian Penal Code. They have also been booked under sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Immoral Traffic Prevention Act and Child Labour Amendment Act, and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children Act).

Karnataka unit’s Congress spokesperson Lavanya, meanwhile, targeted MP Shobha Karandlaje and BJP national general secretary CT Ravi over their silence in the case. She alleged that some of the accused named in the FIR are associated with the BJP.“If you notice the pattern across India whenever there is an assault on women and kids, more often than not you see a lot of BJP MLAs and office-bearers being involved. What is it that makes them so terrible people that they are involved in incidents such as this,” she said.

Courtesy:India Today