13-year-old mentally challenged girl raped

LUCKNOW: Two men allegedly raped a 13-year-old mentally challenged girl in the city after kidnapping her from Sitapur. The victim was found in an abandoned state near Jugauli crossing in Gomti Nagar on Tuesday night. The police on Wednesday lodged her in a shelter home after registering an FIR against unidentified persons.

“Some locals spotted the girl crying on the roadside and informed the police. We immediately rushed to the spot and took her to Balloons Shelter Home in Takrohi,” said Umesh Bahadur Singh, station officer (SO), Gomti Nagar police station. He said the girl was mentally retarded and unable to explain things properly, so the police took help of women activists of the shelter home to understand her words.

The station officer said the girl told the activists that two unknown men brought her from Sitapur and raped her. “Suresh Singh Dhapola of Balloons has lodged a complaint in the matter after confirming the facts from the girl,” he said.

“We have registered an FIR under section 376 of the Indian Penal Code and section 3/4 of the Child Protection Act,” said Singh.

The girl would be sent for a medical examination on Thursday morning, he added.

SSP J Ravinder Goud said the girl was not able to give any information about her parents or relatives. “We have urged the Sitapur police to help us trace the girl’s house,” he added. In past four months, this is the eleventh such incident wherein a minor girl has been raped.