Ghanasham alias Raju, his wife Rubina and Santosh alias Rahul Gochhi had allegedly arranged for three clients – Suraj Raut alias Chandan, Shantanu Kumar Das and another in room number 311 at Little Baga M N Resort on July 14. To her fortune, her emergency call to police helpline number 100 saved her from the clutches of the racketeers.
Highly placed police sources told Herald that the victim was asked to ‘sleep’ with them despite her protest. Earlier to this, the victim and seven persons including the three pimps – currently behind bars for the offence – had stayed at Park Avenue Hotel for three days.
“Shantanu on many occasions touched me…tried to have sex (on July 14)…I started crying…” the victim told the police and government-formed Victims’ Assistance Unit.
Multiple bruises on her face and neck confirms the girl was assaulted by her accused each time she did not heed to their demand. “Today (July 14) they told (me) to have sex with Chandan in the evening. I told (them) that nobody should touch me…Rubina then told me that she will see how I don’t agree,” the girl narrated as she recalled the horrific moments before the rescue.
With fear of being raped again, the school dropout then dialled 100 from her mobile phone at 3pm begging for help. While she is presently given shelter at State-run Apna Ghar, Goa police face a challenge to trace the whereabouts of a few more named by the victim in her statement copy. Her Facebook friend and disc jockey are among the lot.
Similarly, the police are yet to carry out a search operation at various locations in Goa and Cuttack where the girl was allegedly sexually exploited.
Rubina, Raju, servant Lala, Chandan, Santanu, Deeptimayee alias Rinki Barik and Rahul alias Santosh had escorted the girl to Goa via Mumbai on July 9. They were all taken to a farmhouse after which they moved to Park Avenue Hotel and M N Resort.
The accused are facing severe charges under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code, Goa Children’s Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. The investigation team expects more revelation as the probe continues and the accused undergoing custodial interrogation.
