Girl calls up Childline, youth held for rape

Mohali, April 29

The local police today arrested a 33-year-old youth, Parvinder, for allegedly raping an 18-year-old girl living in his neighbourhood at Nayagaon.

He had been physically exploiting the victim for years. Her father had died a few years ago. The matter came to light when the victim contacted Childline 1098 today to narrate her trauma.

Sangeeta Jund, project director of Childline 1098, Mohali, said the victim told them that the suspect, who was unmarried, started physically exploiting her several years ago. “He used to threaten her and she could not narrate her trauma to her mother,” said Sangeeta.

“The victim did a two-year computer diploma after Class X. As the mother is showing indifference to the exploitation of her daughter, we have put her and her younger sister (around 16) in some shelter home,” said Sangeeta.The victim’s family had migrated from West Bengal. The suspect works in a chemist shop in the area. A case under Section 6 of the POCSO Act and Section 376 and 506 of the IPC has been registered at the Nayagaon police station. — TNS