Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh witnessed yet another rape, of a 7-year-old minor, even as massive anger erupted earlier this week after the rape of another minor in the same district.
The incident reportedly took place on May 3 and the Guntur police have identified the accused as a 23-year-old masonry worker, Nagul Meera, who also happened to be her relative.
The police said that the accused waited until the girl was alone at home, before luring her to an unknown location and allegedly raping her. The parents learnt of the incident only on the next day.
Speaking to reporters, Tsundur inspector B. Ramesh Babu said, “The parents of the child learnt of the assault only on Sunday, and complained to us on Monday. We have registered a case under the new act, and since the accused is known to the victim, we will make an arrest soon.”
"A case under Sec 376 of IPC (amended sections) and Sections 5 and 6 of POCSO Act was registered. We are still investigating the case," Tenali DSP M Snehita told the media.
This comes days after a minor girl was raped by a 50-year-old rickshaw puller in Dachepalli in Guntur district, causing massive public outrage. The accused later committed suicide by hanging near the village.
After calling on the victim at government-run hospital in Guntur town, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had earlier said his government would be tough in dealing with such criminals and called for publicly hanging the rapists.
The Chief Minister said there was a need to instil fear in rapists that the day they commit such heinous crime will be their last day on earth. "Only this fear could act as a deterrent," he added.
He also announced that the government will set up special courts for early trial of rape cases. He appealed to lawyers not to defend the accused.
IANS inputs