.jpg "An Indian woman holds a placard which reads, He is not a juvenile but a rapist, hang him (Photo: AP)")
A senior citizen from a well-to-do family staying in Central Mumbai has been arrested for allegedly repeatedly raping a 14-year-old orphan girl from an economically weak background over a period of four to five months in the absence of his wife, who is abroad. The Agripada police has also arrested a youngster who was raping the victim as well. Police officers have clarified that it is not a case of gang rape and that the orphan girl's poor economical condition was being exploited by the accused.
The accused, Victor Prabhakar Vanzare (65), is a resident of a tower in Nilgiri housing society in Agripada. He used to work overseas. The victim is not related to the accused. She lives in Agripada and knew the accused for a long time. She thought of him as her grandfather. The girl lost both her parents and her aunt was taking care of her.
She was presently studying in a school. It's not clear how she had come in contact with the accused, but for the past four to five months he has been repeatedly raping her, the police said. Apart from Vanzare, another youth has been arrested for raping her. Both accused are in police custody. When asked if it is a case of human trafficking, the police denied it.
The victim's medical report confirmed rape. The victim said the accused had intimidated her into keeping quiet, threatening her with dire consequences. At first the victim did not confide in anybody, but later when the two accused started sexually assaulting her repeatedly, she mustered courage and approached the police.
On December 14, a first information report was registered under Sections 354 (criminal force outraging modesty), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code and under section 4 and 8 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. (POCSO). A day later the accused was arrested and days later the youth was arrested.
In a separate incident in Malad (east), a 35-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly raping a three-year-old girl. The girl stays in his neighbourhood.
A senior police official said the child was raped last week. The girl had experienced severe pain in her body and confided in her mother, after which a case was registered. The police has withheld the name of the accused.
