Fresh concerns over women's safety and law and order have been ignited in Punjab's Mohali district following the reporting of two separate rape cases within the jurisdictions of Sohana and Balongi police stations. The local police have registered cases under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, launching immediate investigations into both incidents.
Details of the Sohana Case: Accused Booked, On the Run
In the first incident, the Sohana police have formally booked Sunil Kumar, a resident of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh, on serious charges. The complaint was filed by a 25-year-old woman who narrated a harrowing sequence of events to the authorities.
According to the victim's statement, the accused initially befriended her and later established a physical relationship with her under the false pretext of marriage. The assault took place within the Sohana police station limits. The victim further alleged that during the incident, Kumar used caste-based derogatory remarks against her and threatened to kill her if she ever disclosed the matter to anyone.
Acting swiftly on her complaint, the police registered a case under sections 69 (rape), 74 (sexual harassment), and 351 (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant sections of the SC/ST Act. Despite the legal action, the accused, Sunil Kumar, is currently absconding. Police teams have conducted raids at his possible hideouts in an effort to apprehend him.
Balongi Case: Minor Assaulted, Accused Unidentified
The second case, which has sent shockwaves through the community, was reported from the Balongi police station area. This case involves the alleged rape of a 14-year-old minor girl. In a concerning development, the perpetrator in this case has not yet been identified by the investigating authorities.
The First Information Report (FIR) was registered based on the statement of Sub-Inspector Gurdeep Kaur against an unknown youth. Preliminary information suggests that the accused allegedly intimidated the minor before committing the crime. Given the age of the victim, the police have invoked the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, along with other applicable legal sections, in the registered case.
Ongoing Investigations and Community Impact
Police officials have confirmed that investigations in both cases are actively ongoing. The back-to-back reports of such serious crimes in residential areas of Mohali have sparked urgent debates about women's safety and the effectiveness of local law enforcement. Residents and community leaders are calling for heightened police vigilance and quicker response mechanisms to prevent such incidents.
The use of multiple legal frameworks—BNS for the general penal provisions, the SC/ST Act for caste-based abuse, and POCSO for the protection of the minor—highlights the gravity with which the police are treating these cases. The outcomes of these investigations are being closely watched, as they will significantly impact public trust and the perceived security of women and children in the district.
