Team Herald
CALANGUTE: A Saligao resident, allegedly running a fake NGO, has been arrested for allegedly raping a widow who sought his help to solve her personal problems.
The accused Karl Hendricks is allegedly running an unregistered NGO called ‘Helping Hands’ only through social media — facebook.
According to the police, the victim, who has some personal problems, came across the NGO through social media and sought help of the accused solve her problems. She was asked by the accused whether he could meet him personally to discuss her problems in detail.
Unsuspecting, the victim reportedly provided details of her residence and also shared her phone number. And on Monday, the accused visited her residence, where while sharing her problems with him, she got emotional and started crying.
And taking advantage of the victim’s mental fragility, the accused allegedly held her tight and molested her.
Following this, the victim filed a complaint at Calangute Police station on Monday. She was reportedly assisted by an NGO in filing the police complaint.
The police have registered an offence against the accused under Section 354, 354 (a), 354 (b) and 376 of IPC.
The accused was immediately arrested, produced before a local court which remanded him in police custody for three days. The accused is also suspected to be involved in more such crimes across Goa.
Investigating Officer Sapna told Herald that ‘Helping Hands’ was not a registered one and being operated only on Facebook.
Further investigation is in progress under the supervision of Calangute PI Nolasco Raposo.
Commenting on the incident, Nisha Vernekar, the president of Goenchi Nari Shakti, an NGO, demanded strict action to curb such criminal activities.
“We have learnt that the accused and his spouse are jobless and running this NGO illegally by cheating innocent people. We request for a thorough investigation. The bank balance and call details of the accused and his wife and other members of ‘Helping Hands’ should be checked and all stringent measures to curb such activities should be taken up,” Vernekar said.
