The Vadodara police on Friday arrested two men who allegedly raped a teenage girl – a minor – after luring her into a room in a busy locality in the city a day ago. Later in the day, a local court sent the two accused to police custody for three days.
In the First Information Report (FIR) lodged at a police station in the city, the girl’s mother said her daughter was locked in the room for several hours. According to the complaint, the girl, who is from Uttar Pradesh, was visiting her family in Vadodara.
Jagdish Chavda, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1), said the FIR was registered under Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita sections for rape as well as the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act.
“We have assured the family that a thorough probe will be conducted to be able to gather as much evidence as possible to file a watertight chargesheet to seek justice for their daughter. The accused have been arrested.”
According to the complaint, the girl stepped out of her relatives’ home to go to a shop in the vicinity when the accused allegedly called out to her and lured her into a room. When neighbours heard her calling out for help, they tried to open the room but found it locked.
The complainant told the police that the accused fled, leaving her daughter inside.
“We have taken the statements of the relatives and also conducted a medical examination of the victim and the report is awaited. The accused are aged around 19 and 20. Their questioning has been initiated. We will reconstruct the crime and gather as much evidence as possible during this time. The girl is stable and was discharged after the medical tests,” an inspector at the police station where the FIR has been filed told The Indian Express.
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The inspector added that the police are also questioning the accused to determine whether any others were involved in the crime.
On Thursday late evening, a large number of people from the girl’s community gathered outside the hospital, where she was admitted for treatment. Senior city police officers soon reached the spot to oversee the investigation.
