Teen allegedly raped in Kanpur; journalist held

Kanpur: A local journalist has been taken into custody and a police constable’s role is also under investigation in connection with the alleged abduction and gang rape of a 14-year-old girl in Kanpur’s Sachendi area, officials said on Wednesday amid allegations of police apathy by the victim’s family

According to the complaint, the minor, a class 7 dropout, had stepped out of her home around 10 pm on Monday night when she was allegedly abducted by two men travelling in an SUV. One of the accused was wearing a police uniform.

The girl told the police that she was taken to a deserted location near a railway track in Sachendi, where she was allegedly sexually assaulted inside the vehicle for nearly two hours. She was later abandoned in an unconscious state outside her house, they said.

The victim’s brother said he found her lying outside the house around midnight in a semi-conscious condition, according to the complaint.

He said he immediately alerted the police by dialling 112, but alleged that no prompt action was taken.

The family later approached senior officials on Tuesday, following which an FIR was registered under sections related to kidnapping and gang rape.

The girl’s brother alleged that when the family informed the police personnel that one of the accused was a policeman, they were turned away from a local police outpost. Only after approaching senior officers was the case registered, he claimed, adding that the names of the accused were initially omitted from the complaint.

The police said that efforts are on to identify and arrest the police constable, and stressed that the investigation is being conducted with complete transparency.

The victim has undergone a medical examination and the report is awaited, Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Dinesh Tripathi said.