Chandigarh :

The police have booked 18 persons, including seven cops, in connection with the alleged rape of a minor in Kaithal’s Kalayat block.

The victim, in her police complaint, alleged a police official raped her and her mother at their house in Kaithal’s Haripur village, while others, including a sarpanch and a former sarpanch of Haripur village, stood guard outside.

A case was registered under Sections 120 B, 323, 342, 376-D, 384 and 506 of the IPC and Section 6 of the POCSO Act on Tuesday night.

Of the seven accused police officers, one is a woman ASI posted in a women’s police station. The rest are from a single police station.

Kaithal Superintendent of Police Aastha Modi said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by a DSP-rank officer had been constituted.

Sources said the victim, in her complaint, also alleged she was forced by the accused to record a statement against her father in a molestation case.

A couple of months ago, the girl had filed a case of molestation against her father and recorded a statement under Section 164 of the CrPC. Subsequently, the father was arrested. On the second hearing of the case, the girl retracted from her statement, following which the father was granted bail.

The girl alleged she was raped during the investigation of the molestation case and forced to give a complaint against her father.

SIT formed 

A Special Investigation Team led by a DSP-rank officer constituted 
Of the seven accused police officers, one is a woman ASI
The victim, in her complaint, alleged she was forced by the accused to record a statement against her father in a molestation case

A couple of months ago, the girl had filed a case of molestation against her father. Subsequently, the father was arrested.  

On the second hearing of the case, the girl retracted from her statement, following which the father was granted bail.

Crime against women on rise in Panipat 

• Crime against women has been on the rise in the district, so suggest the figures available with the Panipat police
• In nine months this year (till September 20), 103 cases were registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, while only 84 cases were registered under the Act last year.
• On an average, 2.5 cases of crime against woman were registered every day in the past nine months.
• The number of domestic violence cases is also on the rise in the district. In 2017, 13 dowry deaths were reported, while eight deaths have been reported up to September.