BENGALURU: An autorickshaw driver was arrested on Thursday on charges of driving a passenger to an isolated place and sexually assaulting her on December 10. The girl’s accurate description of the accused and his vehicle and police’s effort to collect 20 CCTV images between Thanisandra and Nagawara traffic junctions helped track the driver.
The accused is Devanahalli resident Mubarak Pasha, 28, who is married and has two minor kids. The 18-year-old girl is a computer science student, who funds her education and family expenses by working as an usherette in marriage functions. Police said the girl boarded the auto near Thanisandra bus stop on December 9 and Pasha took her to an isolated place after driving for 1.5km. He pushed her into a grove and raped her before leaving her behind. The girl reached home and filed a complaint next day after she was persuaded by her friend.
Based on her complaint, police registered a case under IPC section 376. The girl told police she lives with her mother and is studying final-year computer science. During her spare time, she had taken up the job of hosting/welcoming guests at wedding halls.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)