Kothagudem: Four booked under POCSO for rape of minor, TGSP constable absconding

Four youths were arrested in Kothagudem for allegedly raping a minor girl, while two others, including a TGSP constable, remain absconding. The case has been registered under POCSO, BNS and SC/ST Act provisions, and investigation is underway.

Kothagudem: Kothagudem II-town police booked four youths under the provisions of POCSO Act for allegedly raping a minor girl at the old depot area in district headquarters while two other accused, including a TGSP constable, were absconding.    

Speaking to the media here on Wednesday, Kothagudem DSP, L Adinarayana informed that the main accused, Mari Ramakrishna gained the trust of a minor girl under the pretext of love. On July 3 with the assistance of his accomplices Jale Naveen and Ganesh he took her in an auto-rickshaw to the room of his relative Venkatesh at the old depot area and sexually assaulted her.

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Later the other accused Kalakuntla Vijender and Badeti Mahesh, who became aware of the matter, also sexually assaulted the victim on separate days. The victim informed her mother about the incident on July 11 and a complaint was registered at the police station on the same day.

The accused Ramakrishna, Vijender, Mahesh and Naveen, all auto rickshaw drivers from Sujatha Nagar mandal in the district, were arrested. They were booked under Sections 137(2) (kidnapping a minor), 78 (stalking), 65(1) (raping a minor) of BNS; Sections 3 read with 4 and 5 read with 6 of the POCSO Act; Sections 3(2)(V) and 3(2) (Va) of the SC/ST Act. 

Two others accused in the case, Ganesh of Suraram, Sujatha Nagar mandal and a TGSP constable Venkatesh of Bayyaram, who was said to have provided shelter at his home for the sexual assault, were absconding. The police are investigating the case.