CRPF man held on rape charges

JALANDHAR: Police have arrested a 25-year-old Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) constable, Prince Kumar, for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl on pretext of marriage. Police have failed to invoke the POCSO Act against the accused, despite it being mandatory. Police have not informed the Child Welfare Committee, which is again mandatory in minors’ rape cases.

Victim said she was getting training to become an air hostesses from a private centre in Pathankot and used to visit her family in Jalandhar during vacations. She alleged that Kumar used to follow her at home. He even pressurised her to get married to him, but she rejected the proposal stating that she is a minor.

The girl alleged that six months ago, the accused took her to his house in Chandigarh, claiming that he wants to introduce her to his family. She agreed to go with him, but there was no one at the house. Following this, he offered her a cold drink. She claimed that she felt dizzy after drinking it.

Following this, the accused took her to a room where he allegedly committed the crime. The girl said that recently, she met him and asked him to marry as she is turning 18 soon, but Kumar denied. After this, she informed her parents about the incident.

Kartarpur DSP Sarbjeet Rai said that on the basis of the victim’s statement, a first information report (FIR) was registered against constable Prince Kumar under Section 376 (rape) of the IPC at Maqusdan police station and was arrested on Monday.

He said that medical examination of the victim has been conducted at the civil hospital. He said that the campus senior officials have been informed by cops about Kumar’s arrest, who belongs to 13th battalion.