Minor raped, locked up in almirah

• A nine-year-old girl’s tortuous ordeal comes to light
• Offender even joins family members in search for her

In ghastly incident, a 9-year-old girl was raped, tied and locked inside a steel almirah for over eight hours by a motorcycle mechanic at his room in Sanjay Gandhi Nagar at Jagathgiri Gutta in Ranga Reddy district on Sunday.

According to Jeedimetla police, the accused Bablu, 28, a mechanic, enticed the girl by promising to get her candies from a bakery in the locality, and instead took her to his room located atop the four-storied building of his employer. He outraged the modesty of the girl around 2 pm – he reportedly beat up her in order to force her to surrender.

Bablu is said to be from Bihar, but the police are yet to ascertain his nativity and background. The victim is a Class II student in a local school. She lives with her grandmother and her parents reside in Vijayawada.

After assaulting her sexually, the accused tied her hands with a plastic rope and kept her inside an almirah. The girl suffered heavy bleeding following the assault. Her grandmother Razia Sultana, who returned home around 6 pm, did not find the girl in the house. When she enquired from the victim’s brother, he told her that she was taken out by Bablu. When Razia approached Bablu, he feigned innocence and joined them in the search for the girl.

However, around 10.30 pm Razia again went to Bablu’s house and yelled for the victim by her name.

At this point of time, a voice was heard from inside the almairah. Her two sons and their friends broke open the almirah and rescued the girl. The grandmother noticed the blood stained clothes of the girl and asked the girl what had happened. The girl then narrated the whole ordeal. She was immediately rushed to Gandhi Hospital for medical examination. In the meantime, Bablu made good his escape.

Based on a complaint lodged by uncle of the victim, a case was registered against the mechanic under the Nirbhaya Act, Section 366 (Kidnapping or abducting), Section 342 (wrongful confinement) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Assault (PCSA). Investigation is on.

Efforts are on to nab the accused. Bablu is married to a local resident. He resorted to the heinous crime after his wife had gone to her parents’ residence for delivery.