Pune teen and his accomplice held in minor rape case

Pune: A 16-year-old boy has been arrested for allegedly raping a minor girl while she was home alone in Pune on Wednesday. The teenaged boy’s accomplice, a 43-year-old man, who stood guard outside the girl’s house while the former raped her, has also been arrested.

S.V.Solankhe, police sub-inspector and investigation officer, Varaje police station, said, “Both accused – the boy (16) and his accomplice Sunil Kshirsagar (43), and the victim stay in Suyognagar slum area of Varaje in Pune. The boy is a school dropout and Kshirsagar is a labourer. They knew the girl who is also a school dropout. In the afternoon of November 6, the accused boy forced entry into the 14-year-old victim’s house. She was alone as her parents were out at work. He sexually assaulted her and threatened her with dire consequences if she revealed what had happened to anyone. Meanwhile, Kshirsagar kept watch outside the victim’s house.”

PSI Solankhe said, “After the parents of the victim lodged a FIR, we arrested Kshirsagar under relevant sections 4 and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) and sections 376 (rape), 506 (criminal intimidation), 323 (causing hurt) and 34 (crime committed with common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The minor boy was remanded to police custody and later sent to a children’s home.”