12-year old raped in Children's park after I-Day event

Days after the high profile DJ Varnika stalking case triggered national outrage, an incident of rape of a 12-year old minor girl on Independence day in Chandigarh this morning has brought further shame to the city.

The victim was returning home after attending the Independence Day celebration at her government schools in Sector 23 when she was pulled aside into the bushes by a middle aged man and raped. The victim is a student of class 8. The incident took place inside the children park which is the space used by the Chandigarh traffic police for various purposes.

No person has been arrested till filing of this report. The police said they have rounded up a few persons who are being questioned. Sources said, the minor was walking through the children traffic park after the I-Day celebration at her school. The unidentified suspect seeing the minor pulled her into the dry seasonal nullah (drain) that crisscrosses the park.

He raped her on knife point and even threatened to kill her. The victim narrated the entire incident to her parent at home who dialed 100 for help. The father of the victim is a gardener and the family lives in a servant quarter in sector 24 here.

Police have lodged an FIR under relevant charges of rape and various sections of Protection Of Children from Sexual offences (POCSO) Act. Medical examination of the victim has confirmed rape. The police claims it has strong leads and are hopeful of cracking the case. A large number of CCTV cameras put up by the UT police are non-functional.

Meanwhile, close on the heels of the Varnika case, a Chandigarh girl on a scooter was stalked by three persons in a white car at about 10 pm Monday. An attempt was also made to abduct her. While the police have registered a case, abduction charges are still to be added.