Hyderabad Schoolgirl Rescued After Kidnapping and Assault in Chengicherla Flat
A 16-year-old schoolgirl, who had been missing from her home in Narsingi since Monday, was rescued by police on Wednesday after being found confined in a flat in Chengicherla. The survivor, a Class 8 student, was allegedly raped by three individuals, including two juveniles, in a harrowing incident that has shocked the local community.
Details of the Incident and Police Action
The survivor was familiar with one of the arrested juveniles, who worked as a salesperson at a footwear shop in Charminar. She first met him on February 7 and maintained contact over the phone. On February 16, after school, she went to Madina to meet him. Later in the evening, two other accused joined them and took the girl to an empty apartment in Chengicherla. There, the three allegedly assaulted her and forced her to consume alcohol at knifepoint.
During a medical examination, it was found that the survivor suffered injuries to her private parts, according to police statements. The matter came to light when the girl's mother approached police early on Tuesday to file a missing person report. She reported that the minor, who lived with her maternal grandmother in a housing society in Narsingi, left for school at 8 am on Monday but did not return home.
Investigation and Arrests
Based on the complaint, police registered a kidnapping case under section 137(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and launched an investigation. Using CCTV footage, mobile phone data, and local inputs, police traced the girl and two suspects to a government double-bedroom flat in Chengicherla. The 24-year-old accused, identified as a habitual offender with eight previous cases including robbery, theft, and assault, has been sent to jail. One of the minors has been remanded to a juvenile home, while the third accused remains on the run.
Ch Srinivas, DCP of Serilingampally, stated that the 24-year-old also has a suspect sheet against him at Rein Bazaar police station. Police plan to seek custody of those arrested for further questioning and will record the survivor's statement before a magistrate.
Key Breakthrough in the Case
Police noted that it would have been extremely difficult to track down the survivor without a crucial lead: a call she made to the juvenile offender from a local shopkeeper's phone in Narsingi. Officials tracked that number to locate and eventually rescue the girl, highlighting the importance of digital evidence in modern investigations.
The survivor's mother recounted in her complaint that her daughter usually returns home by 4 pm, but when she did not come back, the grandmother alerted the family. They rushed from Shaheen Nagar to search the surrounding areas and made enquiries with relatives and friends, but could not locate her until police intervention.
This case underscores ongoing concerns about juvenile crime and safety for minors in urban areas, with authorities urging vigilance and prompt reporting of suspicious activities.
