Rajkot: Two police complaints have been filed at Bhayavadar police station in Rajkot district after a 12-year-old girl, the daughter of a migrant farm labourer, was allegedly raped by a distant relative. The victim’s father and brother were later assaulted by the farm owner when they tried to report the crime. According to the FIR, the sexual assault took place around 1.00am on Monday. The victim’s father, 45, a farm labourer from Dahod district, said his daughter told him on Tuesday that the distant relative had forced himself on her the previous night. The family first learnt of an interaction between the girl and the accused at about 1.30am on Monday when the girl’s sister-in-law saw them near the farm. The accused fled when spotted. On Tuesday evening, the girl revealed that she had been raped, after which the family went to file a complaint. As the family prepared to file the rape complaint, the farm owner on whose land the accused man’s family work, allegedly confronted and attacked the victim’s father and brother. He questioned them about going to the police and allegedly threatened to kill them if they pursued the case. Relatives intervened and stopped the assault. Bhayavadar police registered two complaints: one against the distant relative for rape and offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, and the second against the farm owner for assault and intimidation. Investigating officer V C Parmar said, “We have detained the farm owner who assaulted the victim’s family members and are searching for the person accused of rape.”
