Teen 'rapist' flaunts tattoos of victims' names

A teenager from Malad, arrested for allegedly raping a seven-year-old, was found to have the names of seven girls tattooed on his body, and the police are verifying his claim that they are the names of his former victims.

The incident came to light on Thursday night, when the 16-year-old resident of Malvani area in Malad was nabbed by locals and handed over to the police for allegedly raping a seven-year-old. The accused, a school dropout, allegedly took the victim to the isolated mangroves in the neighbourhood on Thursday evening and reportedly raped her five times.

Local sources say that when the accused tried to flee after the crime, the girl who was crying in pain followed him out of the mangroves. The victim’s mother, who was searching for her daughter, found her looking dazed.

When questioned, she revealed what had happened and the mother raised an alarm. Locals then nabbed the accused and roughed him up before handing him to the police. A medical examination of the accused as well as the victim at Nagpada police hospital has confirmed rape. “Further investigations are on in the case,” said a senior police officer.

Police sources say that during the interrogations, names of seven girls were found tattooed on the accused’s arms and shoulders. On being questioned, he is believed to have told the cops that the names were of the other girls he had raped. Baffled, police have begun gathering more information about these girls, so that they can be contacted and his claims verified. Psychiatrist Pavan Sonar, when asked for a perspective on the case said, “All symptoms indicate an extremely troubled and traumatic childhood.

Such children often have a parent or guardian at home who may themselves be subjecting them to abuse or ignoring their complaints about abuse at the hands of others.” The teenager is currently lodged in the Dongri juvenile delinquent home.