Ex-Intelligence Bureau Officer, Accused Of Raping Minor Girl, Goes Missing

Police in Delhi have launched a manhunt in search of a former Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer, who is accused of raping a minor girl. As per reports, the alleged sexual assault took place Monday at a hotel in Karol Bagh, where the girl was called on the pretext of a job offer. The complainant is 17 years old and the accused, 60.

Reports quoting police say that the accused and the survivor's family knew each other. He has allegedly been on the run since the incident came to light after the family approached the police a day after the crime. A First Information Report (FIR) was filed by police under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The girl was sent for medical examination following the complaint and a probe in the case is on.

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As per Indian Express, the accused dropped the girl back at her home after the incident of alleged sexual assault at the Karol Bagh hotel. She was afraid and therefore, did not tell her parents about the events of the day. Next day, she mustered courage and told her father, with whom she then went to the police station to file a complaint.

Police reportedly visited the retired IB officer's house but he had allegedly fled the spot by then. His phone is also switched off. "We have his details and have sent out teams to arrest him," police were quoted saying.

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As per latest data by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) for 2020, Delhi topped the list of Union Territories (UTs) with the highest rate of rapes at 997 cases. A total of 10,093 cases of gender-based crimes were reported that year, the rate down by 24.65 percent from 2019, possibly on account of the pandemic restricting outdoor movememt.

Recently, a shocking rape case from Shahdara in the national capital rocked the country. A 20-year-old woman was reportedly abducted and raped by locals, only to later be paraded and shamed around the neighbourhood. Disturbing videos of the incident had surfaced, evoking strong responses from political leaders as well. Multiple people have been arrested in connection to the case. Read more here.