Differently abled girl raped in Panchkula

PANCHKULA: The Panchkula police on Tuesday arrested a 21-year-old man for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl with speech and hearing impairment. Both victim and accused are residents of a village falling under the Sector 5 police station.

Inspector Neha Chauhan of the Sector 5 women police station said the crime took place on Sunday night when the victim had gone to attend nature’s call.

Based on the statement of her mother, the case was registered. Initially, the victim was unable to narrate the incident. However after she complained of uneasiness on late Monday night, her medical examination was conducted, which confirmed rape, said police.

The accused was arrested on Tuesday, and later produced in a local court that sent him to judicial custody. A case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has been registered.

FOOTFALL MISSING IN CONGESTED MARKETS

Though the city’s congested markets like Shastri Market in Sector 22, Sadar Bazaar in Sector 19 and the motor markets of Sector 48 and Manimajra also opened for business on Tuesday, there was barely any footfall.

President of Sadar Bazaar, Narinder Singh, said, “Shopkeepers opened the booths as per the odd-even norm, but there was no customer the whole day.” President of the Sector 48 motor market, Kamal Suri, said the shopkeepers used the free time to repair wiring that rats had eaten into.

NOT A ROSY START FOR FOOD DELIVERY EITHER

When the UT administration, on Monday, permitted the home delivery of cooked food, it was anticipated to be a moment of cheer for restaurateurs, dhaba owners as well as those who have been craving their pizzas, burgers and kebabs. However, sales on Tuesday were paltry.

Barely a few riders of appbased food delivery companies were spotted on the roads. FMCG outlets like KFC and Domino’s were closed to entry. Ashish, the manager of KFC’S Sector-35 outlet, said only three orders had been delivered by late noon. A Domino’s employee, on the condition of anonymity, said their sales were meagre compared to an average day before the lockdown.

Several dine-in restaurants like Indian Coffee House in Sector 17 and Nik Bakers have begun home delivery of cooked items. Meanwhile, some eateries such as Oven Fresh preferred to stay closed, because “food without the particular ambiance is not the same”.