Rajkot Teenager Allegedly Sexually Assaulted by Auto Driver During Runaway Attempt
In a disturbing incident from Rajkot, a 16-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted and harassed by an autorickshaw driver near the State Transport (ST) bus depot. The incident occurred during her aborted attempt to run away from home, as confirmed by local police authorities.
Incident Timeline and FIR Details
The case was reported late on Tuesday evening, with an FIR being lodged at the A Division police station against the rickshaw driver. The charges include sexual assault and sexual harassment under the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
According to the FIR, the victim, a Class 10 student, had initially planned to run away with a friend. When her friend refused to meet her near Madhapar Chowkdi, she decided to travel to a relative's house via state transport bus. She took an autorickshaw to reach the ST bus depot.
How the Alleged Assault Unfolded
While waiting for her phone to charge outside the depot, a bearded man identified as Sikandar Malani, aged 40, approached her. Learning that she intended to travel to Gondal and then to Nashik, Malani advised her to go to Surat first for a faster route to Nashik.
When the bus to Surat was found to be full, Malani allegedly touched her back and inquired why she was still there. He then offered to take her to Limda Chowk to catch a private bus. At the private bus operator's office, he purchased her a ticket and allegedly made inappropriate promises about finding her employment, urging her not to board the bus to Surat. He also offered her food and drink during this interaction.
Family Intervention and Subsequent Events
Meanwhile, the girl's family, who were actively searching for her, arrived at Limda Chowk. The girl spotted them first and instructed Malani to take her away, expressing her reluctance to go with her family. He then allegedly took her in his autorickshaw towards Navagam.
The family enlisted the help of a woman employee from the girl's school to coax her into revealing her location. This employee spoke to Malani on the girl's phone and instructed him to drop her off at an appropriate spot.
Malani ultimately dropped her off at Ravki village, allegedly instructing her not to disclose details of their interaction from the bus station onwards, as per the FIR. The family later located the girl at Ravki village.
Police Action and Investigation
B V Borisagar, inspector of A Division police station, stated, "We have detained Sikandar Malani, 40, and will produce him in court on Friday. We are currently gathering CCTV footage to substantiate the claim that he was taking the girl with him."
The police are thoroughly investigating the matter, with a focus on collecting evidence to support the allegations. The case highlights serious concerns about child safety and the vulnerabilities faced by runaway teenagers.
