Team Herald
MARGAO: In a swift move, Colva Police on Monday arrested the four persons accused of raping of two minor girls at an isolated spot on Benaulim beach late Saturday.
Colva Police said the accused were nabbed after they sent threatening messages demanding a ransom of Rs 40,000 from the male friend of the two victims. Those arrested are 21-year-old Asif Hateli of Housing Board, Margao, 33-year-old Rajesh Mane, 31-year-old Gajanand Chinchankar and 19-year-old Nitin Yabbal, all from Davorlim.
They have been booked under Sections 419, 354 (A) 384, 323, 506 (II), 376 of the IPC, Section 4, 7, 11(V) of POCSO Act and 8 (2) of Goa Children’s Act and have been remanded in four days police custody.
The police disclosed that the accused impersonated as policemen, threatened and assaulted the minor girls and their friends. They later sexually assaulted both the minor girls.
The accused later demanded the ransom amount by threatening the victims of dire consequences failing which they threatened to make the video viral.
The police said a group of 10 including boys and girls had visited Benaulim beach late Saturday night. Two girls and three boys stayed back while the other five returned to their homes. The spot, which they visited, is an isolated part of the Benaulim beach, behind a hotel. The four accused arrived in a van and impersonating as policemen, confronted the victims at around 3 am. They thrashed the male companions of the girls and later assaulted them. They further sexually assaulted both the minor girls.
Following the incident, both the victim girls returned to their homes and did not disclose the incident to their families. However, the next day, one of the male friends of the victim girl received a call from the accused demanding a ransom of Rs 40,000. The accused threatened to make the video viral. The victim girls immediately approached the Colva Police.
“All the four accused have been arrested as their mobile numbers were traced, which were used in sending the threatening messages”, the police said.
Meanwhile, Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao on Monday demanded stern action against all the four accused.
He said, “This is a heinous crime which cannot be tolerated. I demand police initiate stern action against the accused. Police should frequently patrol the beaches”.
Expressing shock over the incident, Bailancho Ekvott president Auda Viegas said, “It’s time to revive the values. Parents need to be responsible while giving freedom to their children. The government should impose a ban on late night visits to isolated beaches “.
It may be recalled that in 2018 a gang rape was reported in the late hours at Betalbatim beach.
