In a disturbing incident from Rajkot, Gujarat, a 17-year-old college student was allegedly lured, drugged, and illegally confined in a hotel by her cousin sister's fiancé. The Rajkot City A Division Police Station has registered a case against the accused under multiple stringent sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Threats, Deception, and a Drugged Drink
Based on a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the girl's father, the sequence of events is alarming. The minor, who resides in a hostel, was allegedly coerced into traveling to Rajkot. The accused, a resident of Ambardi village in Jamkhambhaliya taluka of Devbhumi Dwarka district, threatened to harass her cousin if she refused to comply. Fearing for her family member's safety, the girl went to the Rajkot bus station as instructed.
Upon her arrival, the man took her to a hotel. There, under the guise of offering food, he ordered a pizza and a cold drink. Police state that he mixed an intoxicating substance into her drink. After consuming it, the victim lost consciousness, rendering her helpless.
Aftermath and a Desperate Act
The next morning, the accused allegedly put the still-disoriented girl on a bus from Rajkot to Jamnagar. After returning home, traumatized by the ordeal, the minor consumed a corrosive substance, believed to be acid. She was immediately rushed to a hospital in Jamnagar for emergency treatment.
It was only after regaining consciousness in the hospital that she could narrate the entire harrowing incident to her father. He subsequently approached the police, leading to the registration of the formal complaint.
Police Action and Ongoing Investigation
Law enforcement has taken swift action by booking the accused under several serious charges. The case has been registered under BNS sections pertaining to kidnapping, wrongful confinement, causing hurt by poison or drugs, and criminal intimidation. The Rajkot police are actively investigating the matter to gather further evidence and apprehend the accused fully.
In her official statement to the police, the victim revealed that the accused had initiated contact with her approximately two months ago, following a family function. He had been persistently calling and messaging her since then. A critical and haunting detail from her testimony is that she has no memory of the events that transpired after she fell unconscious at the hotel, highlighting the severe effect of the administered intoxicant.
This case has sent shockwaves through the local community and underscores the vulnerabilities faced by young people. It also highlights the application of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in addressing serious crimes involving abduction, drugging, and illegal confinement.
