Amidst escalating tension over forceful detention of a minor girl and repeated rape by a middle aged man at Kadamtala area of Dharmanagar subdivision of North Tripura district, police arrested accused rapist and put him behind the bar.
Sources said that in a swift response, the Kadamtala police arrested the prime accused, identified as Rabindra Munda alias Ranjit Munda (43), providing a measure of relief to the outraged local community and raising hopes for justice.
Sources added that the complaint lodged by the victim's father, the Class-Seven student went missing from her residence under Kadamtala police station on July 31 last. As the family desperately searched for the girl, the accused allegedly called the victim's father on the same day and informed him that the girl was with him, but deliberately concealed her whereabouts.
After two days, the minor returned home alone in the evening of August 2 and narrated her ordeal to her family. She alleged that Rabindra Munda had confined her in a locked vacant room at the residence of one Subrata Deb in the Kulidahar area and repeatedly raped her.
Following the disclosure, the victim's father filed a written complaint at Kadamtala police station on August 3. Acting immediately, police launched an intensive search operation under the supervision of Officer-in-Charge (OC) Gurupada Debnath and Investigating Officer SI Manoj Kumar Paul. Two teams were formed for the operation to arrest that miscreant
Within 24 hours, police arrested the accused from the Kulidahar village of Ward No. 4 under Sathsangam Gram Panchayat on August 4. The accused is reportedly divorced and had been living alone. During interrogation, he allegedly admitted to keeping the minor confined for two nights.
Police said a case has been registered against the accused under Sections 137(2), 127(2), and 65(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, registered as Kadamtala police station.
The accused was produced before the District and Sessions Court at Dharmanagar on Wednesday (August 5). The Special POCSO Court, presided over by Judge Sudipta Chowdhury, remanded him to judicial custody till August 13 next.
The incident had sparked widespread anger and fear in the locality. However, the prompt arrest of the accused has restored some confidence among residents in the police. The victim's family and local residents have demanded a fair, impartial investigation, seeking exemplary punishment for the accused to ensure justice for the minor and deter similar crimes in the future.