Two arrested for raping minor

HYDERABAD: A 21-year-old man with a history of theft, extortion, and murder was arrested along with a minor boy for allegedly gang raping a 13-year-old minor girl.

The accused, Sheriyar Rathan Singh alias Rathan Bala, 21, of Meerpet's Lenin Nagar, met the minor girl about three months ago and got friendly with an intent of sexually assaulting her, according to the police. At least 10 police cases were registered against Rathan Singh in Meerpet and Saroornagar police stations since 2014.

According to police, after becoming acquainted with the minor girl and becoming friends, Singh and the minor boy offered her a ride home on their scooty on November 5, around 7:30 p.m., while she was returning from Ramalayam temple in Prashanthi Nagar. The two accused then persuaded her to visit Devathala Gutta and other locations before luring her to a location in Badangpet at around 10:15 p.m. and gang raped her. “Singh dropped the minor girl home after learning that the girl's mother was searching for her daughter,” the police said.

The Meerpet Police launched an all-out investigation, analysing technical data and collecting eyewitness statements before zeroing in on the accused and arresting them on Wednesday. Singh was placed on judicial remand, and the minor boy was produced before the Juvenile Board.

A case was booked based on a complaint from the girl and her mother under sections 363, 376-DA, 342, 324, 506 r/w 34 of the IPC and sections 12 and 5 r/w 6 of the PoCSO Act of 2012.