MARGAO
In a major development, the Goa Police has invoked gang rape against all the four accused arrested in the rape of the two minor girls on Benaulim beach in the wee hours of Sunday.
The police have invoked the provision of gang rape since one of the accused persons had sexually molested a girl while she was being raped by another accused.
“Technically speaking, the offense amounts to gang rape for the reason that one of the girls was raped by one person and molested by another accused person,” informed a police officer.
The police officer added: “Even touching the private part of a girl amounts to rape. During the investigation, it was revealed that one of the victim girls was raped by an accused and sexually molested by another
accused person.”
A senior police officer said section 376DA of the IPC provides for punishment for gang rape on woman under sixteen years of age.
It states: Where a woman under sixteen years of age is raped by one or more persons constituting a group or acting in furtherance of a common intention, each of those persons shall be deemed to have committed the offence of rape and shall be punished with imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person’s natural life, and with fine. Provided that such fine shall be just and reasonable to meet the medical expenses and rehabilitation of the victim.
Meanwhile, the police pointed out that investigations in the case are progressing in the right direction. “The police have attached the clothes worn by the accused at the time of the heinous crime. We have also conducted a spot panchanama,” the police said.
Sources said the medical examination report of the two victim girls has not come yet from the Goa medical college and hospital, Bambolim.
