Man held for raping stepdaughter

The East Godavari police arrested a person for sexually exploiting his 13-year-old stepdaughter after mixing sleeping tablets in milk.

The stepfather, 40-year-old Sirra Raju, who runs an eatery in Malikipuram, committed the crime after his wife went to Dubai seeking better employment opportunities.

According to Malikipuram Sub-Inspector Vijaya Babu, the assault began three months ago after Raju brought the victim home from a hostel, where she was staying along with the four children from his first marriage, for a function.

However, Raju did not send the victim back to the hostel. He started giving her milk laced with sleeping tablets and raped her every night.

Initially, Raju lied to the girl that he did not know what happened during the night, but later confessed that he had no other way to satisfy himself as her mother was away in Dubai.

Teachers at the school who noticed gradual changes in the girl’s attitude and her deteriorating health condition questioned her. Shocked at the victim’s ordeal, the school authorities informed the victim’s mother.

The girl’s mother then alerted her relatives in Palkol who filed the complaint.“We have registered a case under Protection of Children from Sexual Abuse Act, 2012, and arrested Raju. The girl has been sent to medical examination,” Amalapuram DSP and investigating officer Ankaiah said.