Father of 3 arrested for raping niece

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Mar 20, 2015: A  person hailing from Hosadurga in Chitradurga district has been arrested by a police team led by Kaup Circle Inspector Sunil Naik on the charges of  raping his neice after taking her on a pilgrim tour.

The accused is Tirumalesh (34), a labourer by profession and an already married man and father of three children.  It is learnt, the victim too hails from Hosadurga and was taken on a pilgrim tour by Tirumalesh. The two spent four months together visiting different places. However, on realising that the girl was pregnant upon their return, her family refused to take her in. Meanwhile Tirumalesh was absconding.

The shelterless girl had somehow come to Karkala where the priest of a local temple noticed her and offered her shelter. However, when the priest realised that he may be in for trouble  if he kept the girl at home, took her to his native place Hubballi where she delivered a child. Later the two were brought back to the priest’s home.

Meanwhile, locals who noticed the woman and child in the priest’s home informed the CWC which raided the house and enquired the woman. On coming to know about her story,  the victim was persuaded to lodge a police complaint.

When the Karkala police made no progress in investigation, the case was handed over to Kaup police who managed to apprehend Tirumalesh after an intense search as he moved from place to place in search of job. Though Tirmalesh reportedly argues that the girl had come with him out of her own accord and that he had physical relationship with her due consent, the girl is not ready to accept his argument.