BARASAT: A 15-year-old girl was allegedly raped inside a taxi and dumped near the Kolkata airport in the wee hours of Tuesday. The girl was unconscious when police rescued hear from near the boundary wall of the airport. It took her a while to regain sufficient consciousness and tell the police that a youth named Monu, a friend of her brother-in-law, had offered her a ride in a taxi and then misbehaved with her.
The incident follows close on the heels of the rape of a homemaker in Rajarhat by the driver of a luxury taxi. On June 9, the woman was offered a ride to Sealdah station by the driver from near the Exide crossing. Instead of driving to Sealdah, the driver drove to Rajarhat and raped the woman. He was arrested within hours.
In Tuesday's case, the accused is yet to be traced. Though the 15-year-old girl and her mother refused a medical examination, the police have registered a case of rape against Monu, based on her version. As the girl is still unable to give a full account of what actually happened, officers aren't sure whether Monu is a taxi driver or hired the cab. Even the victim'a mother, a resident of Paschim Beraberi in the Airport police station area, wasn't able to shed much light into the identity of the accused.
"A police patrol from Madhyamgram spotted the girl lying unconscious near the airport wall at Narayanpur. They picked her up and got her admitted to the Barasat Hospital. Throughout the day, the girl flitted from consciousness to unconsciousness and her complete statement could not be recorded," an officer said.
According to him, the girl developed a relationship with the youth during her visits to her sister's house at Belgachia. Even her mother or other relatives weren't aware of the relationship. On Monday evening, the youth seemed to have offered her a ride in a taxi. The two travelled to several locations across the city. On the way to drop her back home, Monu is suspected to have raped her.
"We suspect that she was raped in the taxi. Though a medical examination could not be conducted, we have registered a case of rape based on her complaint. If the victim is not ready to undergo a medical examination, we can't force her. We have begun a search for Monu. We have also alerted all police stations along the border to keep a lookout for him as he may try to leave the country," said Champak Bhattacharya, SP, North 24-Parganas.
Even if the medical examination is not held, the police hope to get vital clues once Monu is held. According to an officer, it makes no difference whether the girl knew Monu or not. He will be charged if the girl alleges sexual assault even if it is found that they were having an affair.
The incident follows close on the heels of the rape of a homemaker in Rajarhat by the driver of a luxury taxi. On June 9, the woman was offered a ride to Sealdah station by the driver from near the Exide crossing. Instead of driving to Sealdah, the driver drove to Rajarhat and raped the woman. He was arrested within hours.
In Tuesday's case, the accused is yet to be traced. Though the 15-year-old girl and her mother refused a medical examination, the police have registered a case of rape against Monu, based on her version. As the girl is still unable to give a full account of what actually happened, officers aren't sure whether Monu is a taxi driver or hired the cab. Even the victim'a mother, a resident of Paschim Beraberi in the Airport police station area, wasn't able to shed much light into the identity of the accused.
"A police patrol from Madhyamgram spotted the girl lying unconscious near the airport wall at Narayanpur. They picked her up and got her admitted to the Barasat Hospital. Throughout the day, the girl flitted from consciousness to unconsciousness and her complete statement could not be recorded," an officer said.
According to him, the girl developed a relationship with the youth during her visits to her sister's house at Belgachia. Even her mother or other relatives weren't aware of the relationship. On Monday evening, the youth seemed to have offered her a ride in a taxi. The two travelled to several locations across the city. On the way to drop her back home, Monu is suspected to have raped her.
"We suspect that she was raped in the taxi. Though a medical examination could not be conducted, we have registered a case of rape based on her complaint. If the victim is not ready to undergo a medical examination, we can't force her. We have begun a search for Monu. We have also alerted all police stations along the border to keep a lookout for him as he may try to leave the country," said Champak Bhattacharya, SP, North 24-Parganas.
Even if the medical examination is not held, the police hope to get vital clues once Monu is held. According to an officer, it makes no difference whether the girl knew Monu or not. He will be charged if the girl alleges sexual assault even if it is found that they were having an affair.
