3 ITBP constables arrested for molesting national level table tennis players in Bastar

The constables, Manish Kumar, Nagendra Bhagor and Prabhu Dayal allegedly molested the girls when they were returning from a practice session on Tuesday evening

Three Indo Tibetan Border Force (ITBP) constables were arrested by the Chhattisgarh police on Wednesday for allegedly molesting three minor girls who are national level table tennis players in Kondagaon town.

School children hold placards and participate in a silent protest rally against the rape and murder of a teenage girl in the state, in Ranchi. (AP File Photo)

The constables, Manish Kumar, Nagendra Bhagor and Prabhu Dayal allegedly molested the girls when they were returning from a practice session on Tuesday evening. The constables belong to the 29th battalion of the ITBP which is deployed in the Maoist-affected Kondagaon district of Bastar region.

“On the basis of the complaint lodged by the three minor girls, an FIR was lodged under Section 354 of the IPC and Section 11 and 12 POCSO Act on May 22 and the statement of victims has been taken in front of magistrate. On Wednesday the three accused were arrested,” Kondagaon superintendent of police Abhishek Pallav told Hindustan Times on Thursday.

According to the FIR, the three girls, one of whom is a tribal, were returning from a practice session when the accused constables asked their phones numbers and also passed derogatory comments. The FIR also says that the accused constables tried to force the girls to come with them to the nearby camp. One of the girls then called a relative and when he reached spot, the constables fled.

The girls then went to the police station and lodged a complaint after which police swung into action and indentified the accused constables.