Minor kidnapped, sedated and raped by two youths

Parents of a 15-year-old girl were in for a shock when they discovered that their daughter had been raped and was in the fifth month of pregnancy. The issue came to light when the girl finally broke her silence and told them that two youths from her locality had kidnapped and sedated her before sexually assaulting her in February. She had been threatened with dire consequences if she told anyone of the incident.

On the hunt: Vishrantwadi police have arrested one of the accused, and have intensified search for the other. File pic

The victim was returning home from her karate classes in Bhosari, Vishrantwadi Road when they abducted her and took her to a secluded place.

The Vishrantwadi police officials arrested one of the accused, identified as Pradip Shekhare (19), on Monday night, after the parents lodged a complaint against them. The second accused is absconding.

"She was returning to her home in Dighi after her karate class when two youths, who are remotely acquainted with the girl, intercepted her near a temple in Bhosari. One of the accused gagged her and she was taken to a secluded place, where they allegedly mixed sedatives in her water bottle and forced her to drink it," said PSI Sachin Kale of Vishrantwadi police station.

He said the duo took turns raping her after she fell unconscious. They waited for her to regain her senses and allegedly threatened her with grave consequences if she told anyone about what had happened.

The girl kept mum for some time, but started complaining of abdominal pain which prompted her parents to consult a doctor. After her physical examination, they were told that she is five months into pregnancy.

"After realising that their daughter was pregnant, they questioned her and came to know that she had been raped by two youths, who live in the same locality and registered a complaint with us," Kale said.

He said that they have arrested Shekhare under IPC sections 363 (kidnapping), 376 (rape), 328 (sausing hurt by means of poison), 506 (criminal intimidation) and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. "We have intensified the search for the second accused," Kale added.u00a0