In a horrific case, a 17-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by two groups of 13 persons in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam.
The victim was sexually assaulted by her boyfriend and his accomplice and was later gang-raped by 11 accused, all reportedly photographers at RB Beach here.
The crimes, committed between December 17 and 19, came to light after a missing complaint was lodged with the police. She was traced in her native village in neighbouring Odisha and was brought to Visakhapatnam.
Police have arrested 11 accused while the search is on for two others in Jharkhand.
According to police, a missing case was registered in the Fourth Town police station on December 18 on a complaint filed by the girl’s father. She was working as a maid in a government employee’s house. As the owners went on a vacation, she was alone, taking care of the owners’ pet.
The police traced the girl in her native village in Odisha and was brought to Visakhapatnam. As the victim was in shock, it took some time to reveal what had happened. Based on her statement, police registered two cases under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on December 31 and took up the investigation.
According to her statement, she went to RK Beach with her boyfriend on December 17. The boyfriend brought his friend with him and they both raped her at a lodge. Shocked over this, the girl went to RK beach and wanted to end her life. A beach photographer, who spotted her alone, offered to help. He took her to a lodge, where he along with his accomplices raped her. She was reportedly subjected to sexual assault for two days.
The victim managed to flee from the clutches of the gang and went to her native district Kalahandi in Odisha. She had moved to Visakhapatnam with her family only nine months ago.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh State Women’s Commission chairperson Vasireddy Padma has written to Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner Ravi Shankar, seeking details of the case.
Women’s organisations have demanded stringent punishment for the guilty.
Crew on seized cargo ship to be released soon, assures Iran Foreign Minister
The 16 remaining Indian crew members on board a cargo ship seized by Iran are set to be released soon, Iran Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian assured his Portuguese counterpart Paulo Rangel in a telephonic conversation on Saturday.
1,500 Sikhs join BJP ahead of Lok Sabha polls in Delhi, Punjab
In a significant development, 1,500 members from the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, along with Singh Sabha and other Sikh organisations, joined BJP on Saturday, just weeks ahead of Lok Sabha elections in Delhi and Punjab.
TMC writes to ECI complaining about CBI, NSG ops at Sandeshkhali during second phase of polls
The Trinamool Congress on Saturday wrote to the Election Commission of India (ECI) opposing the CBI and National Security Guard (NSG) raids at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas District on Friday and expressed apprehensions that the central agencies might have 'planted' weapons at the search site to 'defame it' when the second phase of Lok Sabha polls were underway.
2 CRPF personnel killed in attack by armed group in Manipur
Two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, including a Sub Inspector, were killed and two others have been injured after armed groups attacked a camp of security forces in Manipur’s Bishnupur district early on Saturday, police said.
Land subsidence leaves 350 people homeless in J&K’s Ramban District
Over 350 people in Jammu and Kashmir’s (J&K’s) Ramban District abandoned their homes on Saturday after destruction of the houses due to land subsidence.
Houthi leader vows to continue maritime attacks, calls Indian Ocean 'new theatre of confrontation'
Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the leader of Yemen's Houthi group, has vowed to continue its naval operations in the Red Sea, rejecting media reports suggesting a decrease in Houthi maritime attacks, the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported.
Second phase of Lok Sabha polls sees enthusiastic voter turnout from Jammu to Kerala, Maharashtra to Tripura
The BJP, holding a significant number of seats in this phase, considers these elections crucial for maintaining and expanding its influence to secure a substantial majority in the Lok Sabha.
EC suspends 26 Tripura govt staff for taking part in political events, violation of poll code
The Election Commission (EC) has so far suspended 26 Tripura government employees, including security personnel, for participating in political events, election campaigns, and violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC),