the goan I network
MARGAO
In a chilling incident that sent shockwaves, a 20-year old girl was allegedly raped at knife point after the assailants assaulted her 22-year old boyfriend at the isolated Sunset beach, Betalbatim late Thursday night.
The Goa police have launched a massive hunt to track down the armed assailants, believed to be three in number, as district police Chief, SP Arvind Gawas has constituted a team of police officers headed by DySP Raju Raut Desai to resolve the daring case.
SP Gawas said the three assailants, two of them armed with knives, initially tried to extort money from the duo, but later sexually assaulted the victim on the isolated beach late last night.
“The incident occurred at around 9.30 pm when the boy and the victim girl, both friendly with each for the last four years and hailing from a village in Salcete, had gone to the beach for an evening walk at around 8 pm. Except another couple, there was no other person around on the beach around that time”, he said.
SP Gawas pointed out that when the duo decided to head home, the three assailants brandishing knives suddenly made their appearance, apparently taking advantage of the situation, and started demanding money. “The duo pleaded to leave them since they had no money on their person. The boy handed over Rs 200 to the accused person from his two-wheeler. But, unhappy over the paltry amount, the accused again took the couple to the lonely spot around the bushes to demand money”, he said. The victim was later sexually assaulted.
“The incident was reported to the police early Friday morning by the duo. The boy and girl have been friendly with each other for the last four years”, he added.
SP Gawas said the accused persons have been speaking in Hindi and Konkani. “We are hopeful of achieving a breakthrough in the case. I have constituted a squad headed by DySP Raju Raut Desai. The team is on the field trying their best to achieve a breakthrough”, he said.
Sources in the know said the assailants had taken the telephone number of the boy and are believed to be calling him demanding money. The police has declined to comment when asked whether the assailants are blackmailing the boy by demanding money, only exuding confidence of making a breakthrough in the case.
