CAF constable rapes minor tribal in Chhattisgarh, held

Raipur: A 14-year-old tribal girl was allegedly raped by an assistant constable of Chhattisgarh Armed Force at Jharam region in Dantewada district in Bastar. The man was arrested on Sunday.
The incident took place at Pondum village near Jharam CAF camp. The victim, who is a class 6th student, was visiting her sister in the village while on summer vacation.When she was taking care of her brother-in-law’s grocery shop while he was out of station, constable Dasmant Netam approached her. According to the victim’s statement, Netam went to buy something from the shop and inquired why she was sitting alone. Learning that her brother-in-law would remain out throughout the day, Netam returned in the evening and forcibly shut the shop down. He then raped her.
Talking to TOI, tribal activist Soni Sori said that people in remote areas hesitate a lot to report the matter to police unless they are supported. “When I was informed about the incident, Aam Aadmi party workers went to Dantewada Kotwali police station to lodge an FIR,” she said adding that similar incidents have occurred in the past with other women in the village where jawans of the same CAF camp have physically assaulted and raped them, but no one raised voice, which is why they dared to continue with their illegal activities.
Sori has also alleged that the CAF constable used to stalk the girl and often tried to strike conversation with her.
An FIR was lodged at Dantewada Kotwali police station on Saturday night and arrested on Sunday noon. Kotwali police station inspector in charge R Devdas told TOI that Netam vanished after the incident and returned after two days to the camp.
“Netam who was a frequent visitor to the grocery shop found an opportunity to exchange mobile numbers with the girl and had been stalking her since April. When the girl complained to her brother-in-law, he had warned Netam not to call her. This time, he called her up but on not receiving any response from her, he went out and forced himself upon her,” inspector said.
Netam has been arrested under Section 376 and relevant sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO).