16-year-old girl sedated, raped in Puducherry; 8 booked including friend

According to police, the minor girl worked in a private firm where she developed friendship with one of the accused, Vicky. He kidnapped her and took her to a coconut farm where he raped her. After giving her severe dose of drugs, he called his friends and jointly repeated the cruelty again.

Puducherry police on Saturday booked eight people under Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for abducting and raping a 16-year-old girl after sedating her.

Social activist holding placards during a protest against a rape at Hauz Khas village in New Delhi. (AFP File Photo/Representative image)

Police have identified Vicky, Mugilan, Kannadasan, Surya, Ashok, Deva, Kalai, P Surya, who are absconding.

“The girl was working in a private firm at Thirukkanur village of Puducherry where she developed a friendship with Vicky (20). Vicky kidnapped her and took her to a coconut farm in Kandampalayam near Villupuram of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday where he raped her. After giving her severe dose of drugs, he called his friends and jointly repeated the cruelty again,” said a senior police officer with Thirukkanur police station.

The gang left the girl on the farm and escaped after she lost consciousness. On regaining consciousness, she informed the incident to her parents who lodged a complaint to the children protection committee of Puducherry.

S Devipriya, chairperson, children protection unit of Puducherry, then visited the house of the victim and directed the police to inquire into the issue based on the parents’ complaint.

“The victim has undergone treatment at government hospital and is presently at her home. She is being counselled. Three special teams have been formed to arrest the accused. We have booked all the eight accused under POCSO Act,” Gunasekaran told HT.

The incident comes days after an 11-year-old girl in Chennai was sedated and raped for over seven months by 17 people.