PANAJI
After two consecutive attempted murder cases last week and disturbing vehicular accidents, the State has been shaken by two cases of rape involving minors as victims. Both these First Information Reports (FIR) have posed a challenge to the department given that in the first case, the victim has already given birth while in the second, the accused, a Russian national, has fled the country.
In the first case, a 22-year-old man from Karnataka has been arrested by the women's police in Panaji for allegedly raping and impregnating an underage girl. The victim, whose pregnancy was unknown to her family, gave birth to a healthy baby just recently. Sources said that accused Hanuman Galli allegedly befriended the girl, who lived in the same locality, and raped her multiple times while threatening her against revealing the incident to anyone.
“Her pregnancy was not known to anyone, including her family, until she gave birth. Her parents then approached the Pernem police to lodge a complaint, which was registered and subsequently handed over to the women's police station,” sources stated.
The newborn has been admitted to Apna Ghar for care and protection, while the accused is booked and sent to police custody on charges under IPC Section 376 (rape), Sections 8 and 8(2) of the Goa Children’s Act, and Sections 4 and 8 of the POCSO Act.
In the second case, a Russian camp organiser, identified as Ilia Vasulev, allegedly fled the country as allegations of sexually and physically assaulting a 6-year-old during a night camp at Arambol surfaced followed by an FIR against him.
The incident occurred while the child was away from her mother, who was also attending the camp, earlier this month.
Sources revealed that the accused threatened the victim to not reveal the incident to anyone, although the child eventually confided in her mother. An FIR was registered on Tuesday night under various sections of IPC, GCA and POCSO Act, followed by a medical examination of the victim.
Sources said that the investigation team plans to visit the scene of the crime to gather evidence and record statements of witnesses. With the accused reportedly already flown back to Russia, Goa Police intends to seek assistance from the State and the Central government to facilitate his custody.
