Police yet to arrest rape accused
Source: Chronicle News Service

Thoubal, November 05 2022: An underage girl studying in Class XI from Thoubal Achouba Bazar Makha was reportedly raped multiple times by one Badal Sougrakpam of Thoubal Nongangkhong.

Meanwhile, the victim's father has alleged that Thoubal Women Police failed to arrest the accused rapist under the POCSO Act.

Speaking to newspersons at Thoubal Achouba Bazar on Saturday, the victim's father recounted that accused Badal had repeatedly outraged modesty of his daughter when she started studying in Class XI, which was even before she attained 18 years of age.

On May 16, Badal lured the victim out of her house on the pretext of eloping and again raped her, before dumping her at the shop of one of his uncles at Thoubal Bazar.

The uncle and his wife then went on to threaten the girl into silence, and pushed her to go back, adding that Badal had already gone into hiding.

They further threatened to call the police.

After the victim's family was informed, the father immediately brought her back and filed a complaint to Thoubal PS the same day.

His daughter had to spend a night at the One Stop Centre in Thoubal.

The next day, Badal's family came for talks during which they pushed for resolving the matter with money.

As the police also stopped paying attention to the case, the victim ap proached the court.

The court took up a case under the POCSO Act but the accused was found to have taken an anticipatory bail on May 25.However, the anticipatory bail was cancelled by Thoubal court on September 23.Alleging that Thoubal Women Police had not taken up any action in the case till date such as arresting the rapist, the victim's father recalled that a written complaint had been made to the DGP and Thoubal SP in this regard, but to no avail.

When enquired, the police only responded that the accused is absconding.

It is strange that the police are able to arrest culprits in different cases, who went hiding in other states, but is unable to arrest someone accused of a crime under the POCSO Act.

Denouncing the police's lackadaisical attitude, the victims' father raised suspicions whether some powerful people are preventing the case from moving forward.

Thus, the police's attitude will only invite more occurrences of similar crimes in the future, the father said, while appealing to the Chief Minister to take serious note including Thoubal Women Police's silence on the matter.

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