I-Day shame: 12-yr-old raped at knifepoint; day on, police grope in dark

Girl was on her way to attend I-Day function at school; cops clueless in absence of CCTV cameras near Sector-23 traffic park.

A 12-year-old girl was raped allegedly at knifepoint near the children’s traffic park in Sector 23 when she was on her way to attend the Independence Day function at her school on Tuesday morning.

Police carrying out investigation at Children’s Traffic Park in Sector 23, Chandigarh, on Tuesday. (Karun Sharma/HT)

It’s been more than 36 hours, but the UT police are yet to make any arrest.

How it happened

Just like other days, the 12-year-old took the same road to school. Excited about being part of the Independence Day celebrations — where she was to get sweets — she left home at 7:45 am.

From the Sector-23 traffic light point, she took the shorter route that passes through a park adjacent to the children’s traffic park to enter the school from the rear. But the gate was closed in wake of the Independence Day function.

She walked ahead to enter the school through a broken wall. But before she could proceed, someone held her from the rear, covered her mouth and dragged her for about 500 metres away from the school wall.

At knifepoint, the man, who was around 40 years old as per the victim, raped her near a nullah before fleeing.

The Class-8 student returned home, crying and with her clothes all soiled, and shared her ordeal with her parents .

At 8.33am, her father, who works as a gardener, called the police control room. He said his daughter had been harassed on her way to school.

It was only after a PCR vehicle reached the spot that they came to know that the girl had been raped.

The FIR was registered at 11am, after which the girl was taken for medical examination, which was conducted around 12.30pm.

After lunch hours, the girl recorded her statement before the magistrate under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

With no closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera installed at or around the park or at the three traffic intersections on the road separating Sectors 23 and 24, police are now seeking help from those residing in the vicinity for clues.

“He was of my father’s age (around 40 years old),” is what the victim told the police.

The girl, who is a Class-8 student and turns 13 next month, said the accused was wearing blue trousers and spoke in Punjabi. “I do not know him, but can recognise him,” she said.

The girl had entered the park from its rear gate, said Eish Singhal, who is holding the charge of UT senior superintendent of police (SSP). After receiving the police complaint, she was taken to a government hospital in Sector 16 for her medical examination, which confirmed sexual assault.

The police registered a case under Sections 376 (rape), 341 (wrongful restraint), 363 ( kidnapping) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at the Sector-17 police station.

32 suspects rounded up

The police have rounded up about 32 suspects based on the description provided by the victim. Among them is a school watchman, who reported late to work. He was to be there at 8:15, but arrived at 9:30am.

The crime was committed around 8am.

The police are also getting sketches of accused prepared with the help of the girl.

A senior police official said they will conduct an identification parade of the accused. Sources said the victim’s mother has told the police that her daughter would not be coming to the police station.

Meanwhile, the cops are also verifying details of gardeners and other people booked under the POCSO Act and out on bail or parole.

“The investigations are still on. We cannot share any details,” said deputy superintendent of police (DSP, central) Ram Gopal.

Girl threatens to end life

Sources said the victim has been crying and threatening to commit suicide, worried about the “comments and stares” of her classmates. A bright student, she is hesitant to go to school, considering the social stigma. Sources said she is being providing counselling to handle the trauma.

Father seeks protection of identity

After the girl’s identity was allegedly revealed on some online news portals and television channels, the victim’s father has written to police seeking protection of his daughter’s identity. “You (media) will be responsible if anything happens to my daughter,” said the father. “Everyone has come to know about my daughter’s identity. I don’t know what to do,” he said.