6 held for raping minor, 3 absconding

Mumbai: The Panvel police are verifying allegations made by the family of a 15-year-old, that she had been kidnapped and raped by nine persons over the last two years. The police, which has registered a case on the basis of the family’s compliant, has so far arrested six of the accused and are searching for the remaining three. They have also found the girl in Pune.

According to a Panvel police officer, “Her parents came to the police station a month ago and we registered a case of kidnapping as she is a minor. We combed many areas in a month till we found her near Pune,” he said. He added, “In her statement, the victim said that nine guys had been harassing her for the past two years. They used to take her to remote areas and rape her.” Senior PI Panvel city police station, S Bajare said, “We have registered a case under the IPC rape section and have arrested six adults. We are verifying whether the victim went voluntarily with friends or she was forced to do so.”  The officer added, “Some of the boys knew that she was going through mental trauma.”