HYDERABAD: An auto driver was nabbed for sexually exploiting a 13 year-old girl whom he had been ferrying to school over a period of five months. The abuse came to light after the girl became pregnant and her family members found out about her state. The family lodged a complaint against the erring driver on Wednesday.
Police said Rajesh, 37, of Lalaguda, had been transporting eight students to and fro the area since August 2015. He allegedly began abusing the girl, who was the eldest among the children, over the past five months.
He used to stop the auto-rickshaw at a particular point and ask the other children to go play at a ground nearby. "While the other students, including the victim's five-and-half-year-old brother were playing, Rajesh used to take the girl to an abandoned house nearby and rape her," said Lalaguda inspector R Karan Kumar Singh.
"Over the past five months, Rajesh raped the victim about 13 times. The victim became pregnant after the repeated assault. Her mother realised what had been happening after noticing changes in her body," Singh said.
During the investigation, the police found out that Rajesh had been using vulgar language and had warned the girl against speaking to anyone about the abuse. The traumatised child would request her parents to skip school at least once a week.
On Wednesday afternoon, the victim's mother lodged a complaint with the Lalaguda police and a case was registered against Rajesh under section 376 (2) (i) (n) (rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 3(a) (penetrative sexual assault) rw section 4 (fine) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Police sent the victim for medical examination, while the culprit was taken into custody.
Speaking about such cases, child rights activists said the profile of 'predators' has remained unchanged over the years. It is still the over-friendly neighbour, attentive school teacher or doting uncle who, in most cases, are found guilty. From homes and playgrounds to hostels and orphanages, every place is infested with these offenders, say activists.
Deputy commissioner of police (DCP), North Zone, B Sumati told TOI that to prevent such incidents parents and teachers should teach children about what is an inappro priate touch and an appropriate one. "Children should be brought up in such a manner that they feel they can speak to their parents about any problem they face in their day-to-day routine," the DCP said.
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