Vijayawada: A seven-year-old from Modukuru in Chunduru mandal of Guntur district was allegedly raped on May 3 by a 23-year-old masonry worker, who is also her relative. The victim’s parents complained to the police on Monday, and she is being treated at the government hospital in Tenali, though the hospital allegedly delayed treatment by more than seven hours on the excuse that there was no gynaecologist available. According to unconfirmed reports, the accused, Nagul Meera, is in police custody, though an official arrest is yet to be recorded. Nagul, the victim’s brother-in-law, reportedly entered her home after her parents had gone to work, lured her with chocolate, and took her to an unknown location.
After the rape, he dropped her back home. The victim remained silent about her ordeal, though she complained of stomach-ache. On Sunday, her mother found blood stains while washing her clothes, and only then did the girl mention the incident. Doctors at a local hospital confirmed the rape, upon which the parents complained to Tsundur police, who registered a case under Section 376 (A) (B) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Under this section, if the crime is proven, the accused is liable to get the death penalty.
Tsundur inspector B. Ramesh Babu said, “The parents of the child learnt of the assault only on Sunday, and complained to us on Monday. We have registered a case under the new act, and since the accused is known to the victim, we will make an arrest soon.” This is the third reported rape in Guntur in recent times, following the Dachepalli rape incident, and a second one at Tenali, where a pani puri seller raped two girls.
