17-Year-Old Sexual Assault Survivor Goes Missing from Pune Hospital
A 17-year-old sexual assault survivor has gone missing from Sassoon General Hospital in Pune, where she was taken for a mandatory medical examination. The incident occurred on Friday evening, sparking a widespread police search and raising serious concerns about the safety of vulnerable minors in institutional care.
Disappearance During Medical Check-Up
The girl, who was residing at a Kalepadal-based observation home for girls, was accompanied to the hospital by an official from the facility for a scheduled medical check-up. According to police reports, the girl's parents also arrived at the hospital during the visit. After completing her medical tests, the teenager requested some time alone and subsequently walked out of the hospital unnoticed by authorities.
Sub Inspector Dhiraj Gupta of the Bund Garden police station provided details: "Examination of CCTV footage at the spot shows that she was walking alone towards the gates of the hospital and then disappears into the traffic on the road. We are studying more CCTV cameras in the area and also tracking down her relatives to trace her."
Police Response and Legal Proceedings
Following an extensive search by observation home officials, a formal complaint was lodged at the Bund Garden police station on Saturday. Police have registered a case of abduction, as mandated by Supreme Court guidelines when minors go missing. The investigation is being conducted across multiple jurisdictions, with authorities coordinating between Pune and Mumbai.
Senior Inspector Chandrashekhar Sawant of the Baner police station revealed crucial background information: "Before shifting to Pune, the girl was in Mumbai with her parents. Childline officials received a message around 20 days ago, stating that a minor girl would be married off in Mumbai. Local police thwarted the wedding, and the girl was handed over to her parents."
Previous Rescue and Sexual Assault Case
The case has complex layers that extend beyond the recent disappearance. After the prevented forced marriage in Mumbai, the girl traveled to Pune with her partner, a 23-year-old driver. Police received information about the minor being in a conjugal relationship, leading to her rescue from a room where she was living with the man.
The Baner police station had already registered a sexual assault case involving the girl approximately four days before her disappearance. Authorities invoked provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act in this matter. The 23-year-old driver has been arrested and is currently lodged in Yerawada Central Prison.
Ongoing Search Efforts
Police are pursuing multiple investigative angles to locate the missing teenager. Search operations have been expanded to include Mumbai and the native place of her partner in Pune district. Authorities maintain contact with the girl's parents as part of the investigation.
Sub Inspector Gupta emphasized the comprehensive nature of the search: "We are in contact with the girl's parents, while a search has been undertaken in Mumbai and her partner's native place in Pune district." The case highlights systemic challenges in protecting vulnerable minors who have experienced trauma and legal proceedings.
