Puducherry: In a grievous incident that has sent shockwaves throughout the nation, a 16-year-old girl from Mumbai was subjected to brutal sexual assaults during her visit to Puducherry. The young victim, who had come to celebrate the Deepawali festival with her family, was preyed upon by an auto-rickshaw driver and subsequently by a gang of tech professionals.
The ordeal began on the night of October 30 when the ninth-grade student, after an argument with her parents, ventured out alone to explore the local attractions. Among the bustling streets, she crossed paths with Khajha Mohideen, an auto-rickshaw driver, who, noticing her unfamiliarity with the city, took advantage of her vulnerability.
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Reports indicate that Mohideen drove the girl to his residence in Kottakuppam, where he offered her drinks laced with alcohol. Upon her losing consciousness, he proceeded to sexually assault her multiple times. Following the assault, he abandoned her at Auroville the next morning, leaving her traumatized and alone.
Further Exploitation
As fate would have it, the teen encountered a group of six techies at Serenity Beach who falsely assured her safety and promised to show her around Chennai. Trusting these individuals, she was taken to their accommodation in Chennai, where the nightmare continued. Over two harrowing days, the software professionals took turns raping her after intoxifying her further with alcohol.
On November 2, they sent her back to Puducherry in a cab, where she was later found wandering near the beach in a weak state. Local residents, noting her distress, alerted the authorities.
A Family’s Desperate Search
Her parents had reported her missing to the Grand Bazaar police station on November 1, after failing to locate her following the altercation. The police, fueled by the urgency of the case, quickly retrieved CCTV footage that revealed her interaction with Mohideen. Upon narrowing down their suspect, they arrested the auto-driver, who began to unravel the disturbing details surrounding his actions.
Mohideen admitted to taking the girl to a guesthouse before assaulting her at both his home and the guesthouse. He exploited the girl’s altered state, lack of knowledge of local languages, and her earlier familial dispute to execute his predatory plans.
Medical Confirmation and Counseling
After being rescued, the girl was taken to JIPMER hospital, where medical evaluations confirmed the sexual assaults. The distressing nature of her experiences necessitated professional counseling by a Child Welfare Board team, where she bravely disclosed the full extent of the abuse, leading to further police action.
Based on her courageous revelations, authorities arrested Khajha Mohideen on November 3. His actions were classified under multiple charges, including child rape and aggravated sexual offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act.
As the investigation progressed, police efforts led to the identification and arrests of Chitranjanan, a 30-year-old IT professional from Odisha, along with three accomplices: Dinababu and Pankaj from Odisha and Ramesh from Telangana. Each was charged with significant felonies related to the sexual assaults.
Currently, the police are pursuing leads to identify and apprehend two more accomplices involved in the horrific ordeal. Collectively, five individuals, including the auto driver and the techies, are under arrest.
