A significant public gathering formed in Surat's Sarthana area on Tuesday as police escorted a recently arrested 26-year-old man to reconstruct the scene of a serious crime. The accused was apprehended a full 38 days after allegedly abducting a 17-year-old girl and raping her.
Public Outcry and Probe Transfer Preceded Arrest
The arrest occurred just three days after Surat's Police Commissioner shifted the investigation from the local Sarthana police station to the specialized Detection of Crime Branch (DCB). This decision followed strong allegations of police inaction in the case. Members of the influential Patidar community had staged a gherao (siege) of the Sarthana police station on January 2, expressing anger that no effective steps had been taken for nearly 35 days after the initial complaint was registered.
Timeline of the Crime and Elusive Accused
The case dates back to November 28, when the minor girl was abducted from the Sarthana locality. She had left her home for work in the morning but never returned. Her worried family filed a formal complaint about her abduction the following day. Despite this, the accused managed to evade capture for over a month.
According to officials from the crime branch, the married man, who has a three-year-old son, continuously changed his hideouts during those 38 days. He moved through various locations across several districts, including Bhavnagar, Dwarka, Amreli, and Botad, to avoid detection.
Legal Proceedings and Wider Investigation
On Tuesday, the accused was presented before a court in Surat, which granted the DCB custody of him until January 13. The police have now widened the net, initiating efforts to identify and apprehend individuals who allegedly assisted the accused while he was on the run. Special teams have been formed for this purpose.
Patidar community leader Vijay Mangukiya has demanded the arrest of all such accomplices. He has also called for strict departmental action against the police officers initially handling the case, citing negligence.
The police have invoked serious charges against the accused. These include relevant sections of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and multiple stringent sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
