Bengaluru: A 15-year-old city-based schoolgirl, who fled to Mysuru following a tiff with her mother, was raped and later abandoned in Mandya.
The teenager came across a man at Mysuru railway station who offered to help her return. He persuaded her to get down at Srirangapatna and later raped and abandoned her.
A tiff with mother, an impulsive decision to go to Mysuru, instead of school, and trusting a stranger proved costly for a 15-year-old Bengaluru-based girl, who ended getting raped by him.
The incident happened in Melkote police station limits in Mandya district. The victim, a resident of Banaswadi, was studying in 10th standard at a private high school in Bengaluru.
The girl reportedly had a fight with her mother and brother over a petty issue at home on Sunday night. On Monday, she left home on pretext of going to school but didn’t return. She came to Mysuru and visited few tourist spots including Chamundi Hills till late evening.
Later, she realised her mistake and wanted to go home. At Mysuru railway station, she came across a stranger who later raped her. Mandya Superintendent of Police Bhushan G Borse said that the girl, who was in her school uniform, was scared and confused. Her attacker found she was gullible and befriended her instantly.
“Trusting the accused, the girl explained how she ran away from home. The attacker promised that he would take her home safely.
He accompanied the girl till Srirangapatna and said it was late night and won’t be safe to travel at that hour. Convincingly, the accused invited her to his home and said he has a wife and daughters.
They boarded a private bus from Srirangapatna going to Nagamangala and got down near Nelanalli gate. He took the girl to an isolated place around 1.5 km from the gate and sexually assaulted her, and fled. The incident took place at around 10 pm on Monday,” Borse said quoting the girl’s statement.
Melkote sub-inspector Chandrasekhar said the incident was reported to police by few villagers who saw the girl in blood-stained clothes and learnt about the incident.
Sources said the girl told police that her attacker was around 40 years old and wearing red t-shirt and jeans pant.
The SP said the girl was fine and didn’t suffer any internal injuries, except for mental trauma. Medical tests at Mandya Medical College confirmed rape.
‘She could have sought police help’ Borse said the girl should have had some social awareness. “She could have sought the help of any of the policemen at the railway station, instead of trusting a stranger. We are here to help. Children should be sensitised and guided properly.”
Meanwhile, Housing Minister M.H. Ambareesh, who was in Mandya to attend a programme, also termed the incident unfortunate. He said because of the victim’s small mistake the tragedy took place. He requested the media not to hype incidents of rape.
“Incidents of rape were happening even during previous regime. Because the media is very alert and aggressive today, more and more cases are coming to light,” he said. Primary and Secondary Education Minister Kimmane Ratnakar was also in Mandya, but didn’t comment on the incident.
