Auto driver kidnaps, rapes minor in Dahanu

A 15-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped and raped by an auto driver in Dahanu when she was on her way home in the autorickshaw of the accused on Monday.

The accused driver has been arrested by Dahanu police. According to the police, the girl was raped till the wee hours of Tuesday and the victim's sister lodged a complaint with the police when she came to know about the incident.

The victim boarded the Magic Auto rickshaw from her sister's village in Dahanu. On the way home, the driver stopped his vehicle at a secluded dark place and forced himself on her on the back seat.

The driver allegedly confined the victim and raped her several times till 5 in the morning. The girl was later allowed to go only after being warned of dire consequences if she told anyone about the incident. The girl, however, narrated the entire story to her sister, who then approached the police and got a case registered against the driver.

Talking about the case, a senior police officer said: "The girl was petrified after the incident. It was only after her elder sister took her into confidence, the victim told her about what had exactly happened. The moment we got the information, we registered a complaint and arrested the driver."

He added: "We have registered a case under section 376(2)(i) (commits rape on women when she is under 16 years old age), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal code. The accused is in custody and we are investigating the case further."