SURAT: Two minor girls were allegedly raped in the city a few months ago. However, both the incidents came to light only on Wednesday after the survivors approached the police with rape complaints.
In a complaint of gang rape registered in Dindoli police station by a 16-year-old girl, who had eloped with one of the accused Sanjay Singh Rajput from Chikhli and came to the city. Here, she was allegedly raped by Rajput and two of his associates.
Police detained Suraj Sinh Rajput, Vimlesh Pathak and Chandan Jha under various sections of Indian Penal Code including 376(2)(J) (gang rape), 363 (kidnapping), 506(2) (criminal intimidation), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and also under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). The accused will be arrested after Covid-19 test results.
In her complaint, the minor alleged that she was gang raped in an apartment at SMC Aavas in Dindoli area. A furniture shop owner helped her file a complaint of rape with the police. “The minor had run away from home with Rajput about a year and half ago from Chikhli and arrived in Surat. The minor had run away trying to escape from the pressure her mother and aunt was putting on her for marriage,” said a police officer.
“In the city, Rajput started doing odd jobs and they kept changing their residence within short durations. Meanwhile, they also had physical relations. A few months ago, Rajput started a tea stall in the Dindoli area where he met Pathak and Jha and became friends,” police added.
When the duo saw her and also came to know about her history, Pathak and Jha also allegedly raped her in their SMC Aavas home and when she tried to fight them off, the trio thrashed her brutally, she told the police. “The survivor then escaped from the place after this incident and was found roaming in the area when she contacted a person who runs a furniture shop. He agreed to give her shelter and also file a complaint,” said the police.
“Police have detained all three accused and are waiting for Covid report before their arrest,” said police.
In the other rape plaint registered in Adajan police station, the father of a 15-year-old girl filed sexual abuse charges against a 19-year-old boy and his mother.
In his complaint, the man stated that Raj Kahar, a resident of SMC Aavas in Adajan, had been sexually assaulting his daughter in his home for the past one year under threat even as his mother, Vanita, was present at the house. Raj allegedly threatened to take his own life if she did not keep a relationship with him. Adajan police registered an offence under IPC 376(2)(N) (repeated rape on same victim), 506 (criminal intimidation), and POCSO Act.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)
