Minor rape victim forced to run around for filing case

Consider this a minor girl who was allegedly raped at least four times by her relative was made to visit two different police chowkies and two police stations before her complaint was lodged ndash an ordeal lasting six hours The incident took place on Tuesday The fifteenyearold victim was staying at her auntrsquos place with her brother after their parents passed away Here her cousin allegedly subjected her to sexual assaults repeatedly The victimrsquos brother was deeply shocked on learning this and convinced his sister to approach Childline Following her call to the helpline on Tuesday morning asocial worker accompanied the brothersister duo to Swargate police station Adding to the woes Anuradha Sahasrabuddhe director of Childline said that the kids had left their auntrsquos house without eating anything in the morning At Swargate police station officials asked them to approach Dattawadi police chowkie and then Parvati Darshan police chowkie She said ldquoAfter waiting for nearly half an hour at the second police chowkie the kids were asked to go to Dattawadi police station to register a complaint Upon reaching there they were made to wait another 45 minutes as the concerned officers had left for lunchrdquo Moreover sahasrabuddhe alleged that a male head constable reporting to API Swapnali Shinde asked the girl to narrate details of what had happened with her ldquoCops should treat victims with dignity It is improper for a male constable to ask details related to such an offence or seek information on what clothes the victim was wearing at the time I am shocked to learn that it all happened in the presence of a competent lady officerrdquo she told MiD DAY Moreover Sahasrabuddhe alleged that a male head constable reporting to API Swapnali Shinde asked the girl to narrate details of what had happened with her ldquoCops should treat victims with dignity It is improper for a male constable to ask details related to such an offence or seek information on what clothes the victim was wearing at the time I am shocked to learn that it all happened in the presence of a competent lady officerrdquo she told MiD DAY The law says irrespective of jurisdiction whichever police station or chowkie a victim approaches should register a case Meanwhile Dattawadi Police have arrested 24yearold Swapnil last name not revealed to protect victimrsquos identity the accused under section 376 of IPC and section 4 of The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 The other side API Swapnali Shinde denied the allegations and said there was no delay on part of cops to register a complaint ldquoThe case was lodged at 4 pm We even sought help from female vigilance committee members as such offences have to be handled sensitivelyrdquo But contradicting the investigative officerrsquos claims Sahasrabuddhe said that she had to contact ACP Vasant Sonawane urging him to intervene in the matteru00a0ACP Sonawane said ldquoThere was bandobast for a religious fair and around twenty police officials were busy there After I received this call I immediately contacted senior inspector Vijaysinh Gaikwad and then the officer was sent to register the victimrsquos complaintu00a0