3 navy personnel held for molesting officer's minor daughter

Three Indian Navy personnel and a civilian were booked for repeatedly raping a naval official’s 14-year-old daughter since June, the Cuffe Parade police said on Monday. The police said it was not a case of gang rape as the accused used to allegedly rape the minor individually at different points in time. An FIR was registered against the accused for rape, molestation and assault.

“Full cooperation has been extended by the Naval Provost Marshal, INS Kunjali, to the police in the investigation,” an Indian Navy spokesperson said.

According to the complaint, two of the accused are permanently appointed with Navy, while one works on contract basis. The fourth person is a civilian. The person who is on contract basis had given the minor a phone as she wanted one. “The accused knew the girl as they were staying in the same area. He started talking to her in January,” said an officer from the Cuffe parade police station.

He then introduced her to one of his friends, who is a cook with the Navy. “The cook too started talking with her on phone and in June, called the girl to the terrace of a building and asked her to have sex with him. When the girl refused, he threatened her that he would reveal to her parents the phone conversations, which he had recorded. The minor eventually gave in,” said the police officer. The other two accused, who were later introduced to the teenager, also pressurised her into having sex with them.

On July 18, when the minor’s parents had gone out, one of the accused went to her house. “When her parents came back, they saw the accused coming out of their house. They took a photo of his identity card and spoke to their daughter, who told them everything,” said the officer. A complaint was then registered at the Cuffe Parade police station.

While two of the accused were arrested on Monday morning and sent to police custody till July 27, the third accused was arrested in the evening. The fourth man is currently travelling outside the city for training.

“There is no question of the Navy not co-operating with the police on such issues. These kinds of cases are not tolerated in the services, and we will ensure that a stern message is sent out,” said a senior Indian Navy officer, who did not wish to be named.