Elderly man arrested for raping four minors, other village girls
JAMSHEDPUR: POLICE SAID THE ACCUSED, WHO RUNS A ROADSIDE TEA SHOP, USED TO OFFER THE GIRLS THEIR FAVOURITE DISHES FREE OF COST
A 52-year old man and a father of two daughters and a son, Saluka Purti, was arrested for allegedly raping four minor girls (5-7 years old) of his neighbourhood on October 11-13. It is suspected that the accused might have exploited other village girls too.
The incident occurred at Baihatu village here under Maufasil police station in Chaibasa of West Singhbhum district.
Police said the accused, who runs a roadside eatery shop, used to offer the girls their favourite dishes free of cost. He treated them with fatherly affection. As a result, the girls would occasionally visit his house.
“Taking benefit of their innocence, the man on October 11 took them to a dilapidated house in the village. He then raped the girls one by one. He didn’t stop there and raped one of the four victims at the same spot for the next two days as well,” said Maufasil police station officerin-charge Digvijay Singh. He said that the accused threatened the girls of dire consequences if they disclosed the matter.
Singh said, “The investigation is on and we are trying to find out if the accused had raped other village girls also.”
The misdeeds of the accused came to light after the girls narrated the episode to their parents about three weeks ago. Sensing he might be punished, Purti fled. The villagers then mounted pressure on his family and even threatened to expel them from the village if Purti failed to appear before the village assembly.
Purti’s wife, Chariba Kui, brought her husband back to the village on Friday morning. The irate women members, however, thrashed Purti before handing him to over to police.
“An FIR has been lodged against Purti. He was arrested after he confessed to the crime and sent to jail under judicial custody. The girls have been sent for medical examination, “said West Singhbhum superintendent of police Anish Gupta.