Minor raped by 4 youths in Shivamogga; two arrested

SHIVAMOGGA: A minor girl taking care of her mother at McGann Hospital, a Covid care centre here, was sexually assaulted allegedly by four youths near Shivamogga late Saturday evening. One of the accused is a contract worker at the hospital.
Police arrested two suspects within hours of the incident which exposed the lack of security at the biggest government hospital in Malnad districts.
Deputy commissioner KB Sivakumar visited the hospital and reviewed security at the facility.
The girl, 16, is the only child and her father is dead, police said. The family lives in Shivamogga city. Her mother was admitted to the hospital 15 days ago after she tested positive for Covid-19. Family members are allowed near the Covid ward, but not allowed inside.
Prime accused convinced girl to go for ride, dine with him
The prime accused befriended the girl and would get her food. Owing to communal tension in the city, authorities have clamped night curfew. The prime accused convinced her to go for a ride on Saturday evening in a car for dinner and promised to drop her back at the hospital, police said.
He took her near Ayanuru, 20km from Shivamogga city. There were three other men in the car. They stopped the vehicle at an abandoned place off Shivamogga-Sagar highway and raped her, police said.
All four are over 18 years and residents of Shivamogga and had planned the assault. They dropped her back at the hospital late night. She informed her mother who told relatives and called hospital staff and lodged a complaint at Doddapete police station.
Cops got hospital staff to check the girl’s health and she was sent to Sakhi, the counselling centre attached to the department of women and child welfare development.
With her statement, police on Sunday morning took into custody a youth who led them to another accused. Shivamogga superintendent of police KM Shantharaju said, “A case has been registered at Doddapete police station under the Pocso Act.”
Police said the two suspects have been subjected to a Covid test and being questioned. They are looking for the other two accused.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)