An auto-rickshaw driver, Bharat Soni, has been arrested for allegedly raping and brutalizing a 12-year-old girl in Ujjain.
Victim in Custody:
Police on Thursday (Sep 28) arrested a man who is accused of raping a minor girl in Ujjain,a city in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
The auto-rickshaw driver was taken into custody on the basis of video footage and blood stains found on the passenger seat, police had said.
Girl Will Try to Find Help:
The girl was found bleeding on a road in Mahakal police station limits in Ujjain on Monday. She was taken to a hospital where a medical examination found that she had been raped. The case has sent shockwaves through the country after reports suggested that no one came to her aid for more than two hours as she wandered on the Ujjain streets seeking help.
About the Rapist & Victim:
The man, who is an auto-rickshaw driver, had allegedly raped and brutalised the girl, aged about 12. She had been found distressed, bleeding, and wandering semi-clad on the city streets three days ago.
Reports claimed that the victim went door to door in semi-naked condition, begging for help, but was denied assistance till she reached an Ashram where a priest, identified as Acharya Rahul Sharma covered her with a towel and rushed her to the hospital.
A member of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) who visited the hospital, said that the condition of the girl, admitted to an Indore hospital, was improving gradually.
Ajay Verma, in-charge of the Mahakal police station in Ujjain, said that the accused, identified as Bharat Soni was detained during the probe.
Victim Tries to Escape:
He tried to escape when the police took him to the crime spot to recreate the crime scene and collect evidence like torn clothes.
Verma told reporters that the accused tried to escape during the crime scene recreation but was chased by the policemen and caught when he fell on the cemented road after getting trapped around a corner. The incident took place near Jeevan Khedi locality and two policemen also sustained injuries.
Avidence:
Soni is the only accused in the case and is said to be a resident of the Nanakheda area of the city. He was detained on the basis of CCTV footage earlier. Police claimed to have found blood stains on the passenger seat of his auto rickshaw.
CM Shivraj Singh Statement:
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “He (accused Bharat Soni) will be given the strictest punishment. We will leave no stone unturned in getting him punished.”
“I was keeping track of the situation every hour. Such criminals are not fit to be a part of society. He has injured the soul of Madhya Pradesh. She is my daughter, the daughter of Madhya Pradesh. We will care about her,” Chouhan added.
Police Statement in Press Conference:
Ujjain SP Sachin Sharma said in a press conference, “An attempt was made to spread a narrative that no one helped her (the victim), but during our investigation, we found that people helped her financially, it would have been better if (more) help could have been provided. I thank the people of Indore for keeping faith in the police.”
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