Photo of Goa rape accused released by police
Goa Police have on Thursday said it has launched a manhunt to nab the accused involved in the rape of a nine-year-old Russian girl even as the state government sent a detailed report to the Centre on the incident.
"I had received a call from Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja who asked for a detailed report. The Chief Secretary, who was directed to compile it, has sent the report on Wednesday," Chief Minister Digamber Kamat said.
The girl was raped on Arambol beach on January 26 after which the Russian Embassy in Delhi expressed its outrage over the disgusting incident and demanded strict and efficient measures to ensure safety of its citizens visiting Goa.
Superintendent of Police (North) Bosco George said, "We are raiding guest houses (in and around Arambol) to locate the person and his accomplice based on the details provided by the victim's mother."
Efforts are on to draw a precise sketch of the main accused with the help of the girl's mother. "There is a language difficulty, and also sketches drawn earlier and the details provided by the mother about the looks of the accused are not matching," George said.
Pernem police station, which has registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Goa Children's Act, is working on the clues provided by the victim's mother, another officer said.
According to the complaint registered by the police, the accomplice had given the accused person's name to the mother as Aman and said he was working for a medical firm.
The Russian family had arrived in Delhi on December 23 last year and travelled to Goa on January 1.
The incident has prompted the NCP to attack its senior ruling coalition partner Congress in Goa, saying that ministers who are not able to handle their portfolio should give them up.
Tourism Minister and NCP legislator Fransisco Pacheco said, "If some ministers cannot handle their portfolios then they should give them up. Congress high command should take action against its ministers who fail to deliver."
He said the January 26 incident was shameful and reflects on the poor law and order situation in the state, where Congress is heading a coalition government.
Pacheco, who in the past had expressed fears about Goa being branded as India's rape capital, said he was tired of talking about failure of law and order in the state.
"The (rape) incidents are an insult to Goa. Why should state get a bad name only because of inefficiency of a few Ministers?"
Condemning the rape, Selja had called it as "extremely sad and shameful" and demanded immediate action.