Sexual harassment of minor: one more held

13 Feb 2010 BIKANER: Police arrested one more accused, Geeta, wife of Om Prakash, in the case of sexual harassment of an adolescent girl on Thursday night.

She was presented before the court and sent to judicial custody. Investigating officer Madanlal Kadwasara told the court that Geeta, cousin of main accused Lalchand Nayak, helped kidnap the adolescent and took her to the servants' quarters in the army cantonment area in Bikaneer.
Madanlal said Geeta was arrested on the basis of statements made by accused Lalchand and the victim. He said the police will investigate the frequency of Geeta's visit to the army cantonment area and her contacts in the army.
Lalchand Nayak, accused of sexually assaulting an adolescent girl, was arrested on the basis of an FIR lodged by father of the victim. During interrogation, Lalchand Nayak told the police where to find the girl. She was found in the servants' quarters of the army cantonment in Bikaner. The servant's quarters was in the official residence of Lt Col Rajiv Mishra.
The 12-year-old victim was medically examined and her statement was recorded in the presence of a magistrate. She said Lalchand had kidnapped her last month and kept her captive in the servants' quarters. The child said Lalchand sexually and physically abused her and warned her to not to disclose anything. Initially, Lalchand assured her that he would marry her soon. Police registered a case U/S 363, 366 and 376 of IPC in Sadar police station. After medical examination the girl was handed over to her parents.
Police also recorded the statement of Lt Col Rajiv Mishra, in whose servants' quarters the girl was found. He said he was unaware of what had happened. Lt Col Mishra was asked to submit relevant records and provide information about Lalchand Nayak, since he was working as his servant.
Ma. General K S Kumar, GoC of Ranbankura Division of Army at Bikaner, has also directed military police and military intelligence wing to investigate the matter thoroughly.
The authorities are surprised that somebody could keep a girl in the servants quarters of an officer of Lt Col rank and not just the officer, but the whole security and intelligence staff failed to prevent such activities. It seems to indicate negligence on the part of the army. The barbed wire fencing in the area is missing at many places and land mafia has grabbed valuable land allotted to the army. Besides, anti-social elements may easily trespass into the area and pose a threat to security. Earlier, a Pakistani suspect was arrested in the area. Now after Geeta's arrest, the matter is taking a serious turn so far as trespassing by civilians is concerned.