Three girls were missing from Agassaim since June 7; FIRs lodged against accused under BNS, Goa Children's Act and POCSO Act
PANAJI
The Agassaim police have arrested two men from Porvorim and Karnataka on charges of sexually assaulting two minor girls in a hotel at Calangute.
The arrests came after three minor girls, aged 15, 13 and 11, were reported missing from Agassaim on June 7. One of the complainants told the police that her two daughters did not return home while another woman, a tenant in the same premises, said her 11-year-old daughter had also gone missing and was likely in the company of the other two girls.
SP (North) Rahul Gupta informed the media that based on leads, the three girls were traced to a hotel in Calangute on June 8 and rescued. The accused Altaf Mujawar (19) of Hubli, Karnataka and Om Naik (21) of Porvorim were arrested from the same venue.
“On inquiry with the hotel staff, it was revealed that both accused checked in separate rooms. The three victims were rescued and sent to the Victim Assistance Unit in Bambolim, where their statements were recorded,” Gupta said.
Based on their disclosures and complaints filed by the victims' families, two FIRs are registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Goa Children’s Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The accused are currently in police custody.
Custody breach averted, PCR driver nabbed rape accused
PANAJI: It could have been a clean getaway had it not been for the police driver. The two accused managed to flee while being escorted for medical examination at the Goa Medical College and Hospital on the very day of their arrest.
One is the son of a policeman and the other is a teenager from Karnataka. Sources told The Goan that only two constables escorted the accused to the GMC along with the police control room driver in the official vehicle.
Seizing the opportunity, the accused slipped away from the constables but the PCR driver gave chase, all alone, and managed to intercept them after a short chase.
The driver, according to sources, bore the brunt of the scuffle, sustaining injuries including a swollen face and arms. He is reportedly on medical leave.
Calangute hotel owner arrested, hotel to be sealed: Goa Police
PANAJI: In a late night development, the Calangute police arrested Rajat Chauhan, owner of the hotel where two minor girls were raped in a separate FIR filed against him and the Manager Mansoor Peer. The hotel will be sealed for violation.
Chauhan, a native of Haryana faces charges for illegally accommodating the victims without parental consent. Peer, hailing from J&K, likely to be arrested.
North SP Rahul Gupta further warned of strict legal action against the managements of accommodation facilities for allowing minors without parental consent.
"We are sealing the hotel (linked to the crime) and moving for cancellation of its licence. In future too, strict action will follow against hotel management and owners if found accommodating a child in absence of any family or relatives accompanying him/her," Gupta said.
