Girl gang raped on Goa beach in front of boyfriend; accused arrested

A girl has been gang-raped by three men at Sernabhatim beach in South Goa. The incident took place in front of her boyfriend when the two were hanging out on the beach. The police have arrested the three accused and an investigation is going on. They have been charged with rape and robbery.

Stripped the couple and demanded money

It has been alleged that the accused forced the couple to strip on the beach and clicked their photographs. After doing so, the men gang-raped the girl. The girl who is in her 20s hails from a nearby village in South Goa. The girl has also alleged that the rapists have filmed the entire sexual assault that took place against her.

“All three accused have been arrested. Two accused Sanjiv Dhananjay Pal, 23, and Ram Santosh Bhariya, 19, both from Indore were arrested early on Saturday morning. The third accused Vishwas Makrana, 24, also from Indore was picked up from a railway station in South Goa later today,” superintendent of police (South Goa) Arvind Gawas said to HT.

Earlier, the woman had been sent for medical examination which confirmed rape. After that, the arrests took place quickly. The accused had warned the girl of not approaching the police. However, the couple immediately reported to the police following which the investigation started. An FIR was filed late on Friday at Colva police station under sections 376 (rape) and 394 (robbery) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The quality of tourists that come to Goa has been a matter of concern before as well. Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai had earlier commented on how most of the domestic tourists in Goa are "scum of the Earth".

Quick investigation and arrests by the police have been widely applauded. In recent years, incidents of gang rape cases have increased multifold across the country. Safety of women has been a major concern. Stricter laws must be implemented in order to deter rapists from becoming repeat offenders.

Read: Noida Gangrape: Juvenile Convicted Gets Three years in Reform Home