19-yr-old molested in forest near PEC

Chandigarh, December 9

In yet another incident of molestation, a 19-year-old girl, who was heading for her coaching classes, was reportedly molested by a youth in a forest area near PEC, Sector 12, this morning.

The victim, a resident of Janata Colony, Nayagaon, was heading for her classes when she took a shortcut from the forest area of PEC through a broken boundary wall.

Sources said a youth in his early twenties stopped the victim and started asking her about another girl. The victim felt uncomfortable and tried to leave. However, the youth caught hold of her, gagged her and tried to drag her towards the forest.

PEC students, who were present at their hostel, saw the victim being dragged following which they raised the alarm and informed the security guard present there.

PEC students then rushed to the forest area. However, by that time the suspect had fled from the spot. The police were informed about the incident, who reached the spot and initiated an investigation.

The police said they had collected the footage of a CCTV camera installed near the spot. “Efforts are being made to identify him,” said a police official.

However, sources said the suspect might be known to the victim. The police have registered a case under Sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354 A (sexual harassment) and 354-D (stalking) of the IPC at the Sector 11 police station. — TNS