Father refuses to take home raped minor

Father refuses to take home raped minor
Preetu Nair , TNN

PANAJI: The father of a minor girl who was raped by a police constable and two of his friends for about three months has refused to take his
daughter back home from Apna Ghar stating he feared for her life.

Speaking to TOI, the minor’s father said that he had received a phone call from the government-run home for children in need of care and shelter on Saturday asking him to take his minor daughter back.

“They said she keeps fighting with everyone. But I am worried about my daughter’s safety and life as there is no one at home and the accused are out on bail,” said the father. Claiming that the accused “roam around the vicinity of our house till late night and have even threatened me”, the father said, “I will meet my daughter on Sunday but I won’t bring her home as I can’t ensure her safety. She is safer at the government home.”

The minor was allegedly raped by a 23-year-old police constable attached to the Indian Reserve Battalion and two of his friends. They were arrested for allegedly sexually exploiting the girl for over three months.

The incident came to light recently when the girl developed abdominal pain and was taken to a private doctor in Marcel, who referred her to the Goa Medical College and hospital, Bambolim, where it was found that she was pregnant. The girl underwent an abortion and was admitted to Apna Ghar. She was subsequently referred to the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour, Bambolim, for almost two weeks for “violent behaviour”.


March 15, The Times of India, Goa edition