NEW DELHI: A 14-year-old Covid-positive girl was sexually assaulted by a 19-year-old youth inside Sardar Patel Covid Care Centre and Hospital in Chhatarpur. This is the first case of sexual assault reported from a care centre in Delhi.
The accused has been booked for rape and under sections of POCSO Act. His friend who stood guard during the crime has also been arrested. Both have been shifted to another Covid facility and placed under judicial custody. The statement of the survivor would be taken once she recovers from the viral infection.
Police were informed about the incident by the centre’s management on July 16. A police officer said, “The youth started chatting casually with the girl near the bathroom late at night on July 15. He asked his 20-year-old friend to stand guard to warn him in case someone came to that side while he was committing the crime. After the traumatic experience, the girl quietly went to sleep. Later, she discussed the incident with some friends, who informed the doctors at the centre. Police were called after the matter came to the notice of the management.”
Preliminary investigation revealed that the survivor and the youth become familiar with each other while staying at the centre for 5-6 days. “The patients reside in a common area where the beds are placed at a distance. Rooms have been built for miscellaneous works outside this area. Between them are the toilets and bathrooms. This is where the sexual assault took place,” said an officer.
Additional DCP (South) Parminder Singh said, “A case was registered after we received a complaint from the centre. The accused have been sent to judicial custody.”
The 10,000-bed centre is manned by ITBP.
TOI tried to get a response from the ITBP spokesperson and South district magistrate, but did not receive a response from them.
The accused and his friend, who stood guard during the crime, have been arrested.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)
In Video:Delhi: Minor Covid positive girl sexually assaulted by another patient at care centre
The accused has been booked for rape and under sections of POCSO Act. His friend who stood guard during the crime has also been arrested. Both have been shifted to another Covid facility and placed under judicial custody. The statement of the survivor would be taken once she recovers from the viral infection.
Police were informed about the incident by the centre’s management on July 16. A police officer said, “The youth started chatting casually with the girl near the bathroom late at night on July 15. He asked his 20-year-old friend to stand guard to warn him in case someone came to that side while he was committing the crime. After the traumatic experience, the girl quietly went to sleep. Later, she discussed the incident with some friends, who informed the doctors at the centre. Police were called after the matter came to the notice of the management.”
Preliminary investigation revealed that the survivor and the youth become familiar with each other while staying at the centre for 5-6 days. “The patients reside in a common area where the beds are placed at a distance. Rooms have been built for miscellaneous works outside this area. Between them are the toilets and bathrooms. This is where the sexual assault took place,” said an officer.
Additional DCP (South) Parminder Singh said, “A case was registered after we received a complaint from the centre. The accused have been sent to judicial custody.”
The 10,000-bed centre is manned by ITBP.
TOI tried to get a response from the ITBP spokesperson and South district magistrate, but did not receive a response from them.
The accused and his friend, who stood guard during the crime, have been arrested.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)
In Video:Delhi: Minor Covid positive girl sexually assaulted by another patient at care centre
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