VISHAKHAPATNAM: Ten persons allegedly gang-raped a 17-year-old girl at different loges in the IV Town area here, the police said.
After the incidents since December 17, she fled the town. Her father filed a ‘missing person’ complaint on the day after she went missing. Police and other agencies traced the girl to Odisha on Dec 25.
Police said what was initially treated as a missing case transformed into a POCSO case, based on the girl’s statement. The victim, employed as a maid servant here, was originally from Odisha. She moved to Visakhapatnam with her family nine months ago.
According to sources, the girl was employed in the house of an officer. The officer and his family went on vacation and she stayed alone to take care of the pets in the house.
She along with her male friend went to RK Beach on Dec 17. She was sexually assaulted by her male friend and another boy in the lodge.
Subsequently, the victim was spotted at RK beach. A photographer, offering help, promised to take her to his friend’s place. The photographer and seven others subjected her to further abuse and sexual assault for two days.
“She was raped in different lodges here for four days. Based on the statement of the girl, we are trying to arrest the accused,” the city police said.
“The girl managed to free herself from the clutches of the gang. Several teams were deputed to Jharkhand and different places in Visakhapatnam to arrest the accused, ADCP Srinivas said.
