Two minors held for rape of 15-year-old near Tirunvelveli

Police sources said that one of the accused Mesaac, studying second year at a polytechnic college, was in love with the victim. 

The victim, a student of a private school in Palayamkottai, was befriended by the accused when they travelled together from their village in the same bus. On Saturday evening, when the girl contacted Mesaac over the phone, he had asked her to come to a secluded spot outside their village. 

The girl too had informed her parents that she had to meet a friend of hers residing in the same village and had gone to meet Mesaac. But on reaching the spot, she realised that two more persons, Isaac, also studying in a polytechnic college with Mesaac and Naveen, an autorickshaw driver, were also present with the accused. 

Sensing danger, she tried to escape but the three overpowered her and raped her. Weeping, she went home and informed her parents about the incident. 

Her parents were shell shocked on hearing about the incident but refrained from complaining to the police thinking that any publicity may bring disgrace to the family. 

On Sunday morning, the parents of the girl gathered enough courage to go to Mesaac’s house and asked him to marry their daughter.

But Mesaac, in the presence of his parents, refused to marry the victim and after finding no other alternative, the girl’s parents filed a complaint with the Nanguneri All Women Police. The police secured the two accused. 

During interrogation, the accused confessed to raping the girl, following which they were arrested and remanded in custody on Monday.

The victim was produced before the Nanguneri sub- judge on Sunday who ordered for a medical test of the victim at the Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital (TMCH). She has since been admitted to the hospital. 

Further investigation is on in the case.