Shocking visuals of the 12-year-old rape survivor, in a semi-clad and visibly injured state, going from door to door seeking help only to be turned away have sparked widespread outrage. (Image: News18/video grab)
Madhya Pradesh police said it took an extraordinary amount of effort to crack the Ujjain rape case and it was extremely difficult to find links to the accused, a autorickshaw driver by the name of Bharat Soni
The Ujjain rape case took an extraordinary amount of effort to solve as it involved interrogating a large number of people and scanning footage of more than 700 CCTV cameras, said the Madhya Pradesh police. The accused in the case, an autorickshaw driver, was arrested on September 28 for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl who had come to the city for a better life after fleeing her home in a nearby district.
Shocking visuals of the child — in a semi-clad and visibly injured condition — going from door to door seeking help only to be turned away have sparked widespread outrage.
According to a report published by NDTV, police said it was extremely difficult to find links to the accused, identified as Bharat Soni, who picked up the minor girl from the railway station following which he allegedly raped and brutalised her leaving her half-naked, bleeding and in an unconscious state.
“30-35 people were engaged in cyber investigation, no one slept for three to four days. When we were visiting the spot of the crime, he (accused) tried to run away. Policemen chased and caught him again,” a police inspector told NDTV.
Police have also booked another autorickshaw driver, identified as Rakesh Malviya, under the stringent POCSO Act because the girl boarded his vehicle in her injured state sometime after the crime was committed but he failed to inform the authorities. They further said legal action will also be taken against people who refused to help the girl.
“An auto driver knowingly did not inform the police, action has been taken against him. The footage will be studied, and if such people are found, and it is clear that if they did not help and did not inform the police, then we will take legal action against them,” Jayant Singh Rathore, additional SP, Ujjain, was quoted as saying.
One policeman, however, has taken the responsibility to help the girl with her medical treatment, education and marriage. He said many have come forward to support the child. Two other cops also donated blood to the girl, which ultimately helped her survive.
After walking for hours in a locality under the Mahakal police station limits, the rape survivor was finally rescued by a priest of an ashram, who gave her his clothes and some food to eat. He also informed the police following which the girl for immediately hospitalised and operated upon.