Incident in Dehradun
A 14-year-old girl was allegedly raped inside a public toilet by the 16-year-old nephew of her landlord in Dehradun on Thursday evening. The incident sparked violent protests by members of right-wing organizations, who rampaged at the accused's family shop demanding strict action.
Details of the Crime
Doon city CO Swapnil Muyal stated that the girl had gone to a nearby public bathing facility when the accused, from another community, barged in and raped her while threatening to kill her if she informed anyone. The survivor, who lived as a tenant with her mother above the ground-floor shop, returned home and narrated the ordeal to her mother. The mother immediately approached the police, leading to the juvenile's arrest late Thursday.
Legal Action
An FIR was registered against the accused under BNS sections 65(1) for rape, 351(3) for criminal intimidation, and sections 3 and 4 of the POCSO Act. “The minor was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board and later sent to the juvenile correctional facility,” Muyal said.
Protests and Violence
Meanwhile, members of a right-wing organization gathered near the accused's uncle's house and attacked the shop, alleging that the family was running the business under a false name unrelated to their religion. Heavy police force was deployed to control the situation. A separate FIR was registered against four identified and 25 unidentified persons under BNS sections for voluntarily causing hurt, rioting, mischief, criminal intimidation, and intentional insult.
“Police are probing the other FIR as well to nab the accused involved in the violence as nobody will be allowed to take law in their hands,” said CO Muyal.
