Man elopes with a 16-year-old, booked

Bengaluru: A 23-year-old man was charged with POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act and kidnapping for eloping with a 16-year-old college student. Acting on a missing complaint that was registered by the victim’s parents about a month ago, Basavangudi police traced the International Mobile Equipment Identity number of the accused man’s mobile phone to Hyderabad. They picked the couple from there and brought them to the city. The accused has been identified as Nagendra, a native of Andhra Pradesh.

The police said, victim was a PU student of a college in Basavangudi and as her parents were separated, she was staying in a paying accommodation. Her father is a senior officer in the agricultural department, while her mother a librarian in a government college in Ramanagara.

Since her parents separated, the girl was under the custody of her father. She was in love with Nagendra, who was working in a private company in Jigani. The couple would meet everyday and spend time together, said the police.

In August, the girl forced Nagendra to elope with her and they set out for an all-India tour. After the girl became untraceable, the worried father approached Basavangudi police and registered a missing complaint.

“We have sent the girl and the accused for medical examinations and if the results prove they were physically involved, then appropriate sections will be added to the FIR,” said a senior police officer.