Maharashtra: Autorickshaw driver arrested for allegedly raping 18-year-old woman tourist

A 26-year-old auto driver has been taken into police custody from Maharashtra’s Raigad district for allegedly raping an 18-year-old woman tourist from Chhattisgarh on 27th December, the police said on Tuesday.

The victim was a native of Jashpur. She came to Mumbai and neighbouring areas to celebrate Christmas and New Year, police said.

Senior inspector, Panvel police station, Ajaykumar Landge said, the accused was arrested from Barwai village within 12 hours of committing the crime on Sunday.

He further stated that the woman had travelled to Jharkhand and then to the national capital, before reaching Mumbai’s Bandra railway station on 22nd December.

However, a ticket checker at Bandra railway station handed her over to Child Helpline after finding out that she was alone. The woman was then taken to a shelter before she was allowed leave, he said.

On 26th December, the victim travelled to Panvel railway station. She was befriended by a man and stayed with him for a day, the police said.

"During investigation, it came to light that the woman is a resident of Chhattisgarh who travelled to Mumbai to celebrate Christmas and New Year," Landge said.

On 27th December, the 18-year-old took an auto from Panvel to go to Gandhi Garden area. However, the autorickshaw driver drove her to an isolated place, dragged her to bushes. He raped her after threatening to smash her head with a stone, he said quoting the FIR.

For the reason that the woman was new to the area of the crime, police relied on informants and took help of other auto drivers to locate the accused.

A case has been registered under various sections of the IPC, section 376 (Punishment for rape) and 506- 2 (Punishment for criminal intimidation).

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