Maharashtra Police Detains 3 Suspects In Ratnagiri Nursing Student Rape Case

Maharashtra police on Tuesday detained 3 people in connection with the alleged rape of a 19-year-old woman nursing student in Ratnagiri district. The arrest came after the cop recorded the victim’s statement. The police have to reveal the identity of detainees as interrogation is underway.

The woman was allegedly raped by an unidentified auto-rickshaw driver in a forested area in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. The victim was returning to Ratnagiri city from Devrukh town in the morning hours when the auto driver allegedly gave her spiked water following which she lost consciousness.

The woman stated when she regained consciousness, she found herself lying in a forest near Champak Maidan on the outskirts of Ratnagiri City. Her personal belongings were lying scattered at the spot, reported PTI.

The woman called up her sister from her mobile phone and narrated her ordeal. She walked to the main and hitched a ride on a two-wheeler to reach her rented home in Ratnagiri, where she is pursuing the nursing course.

She was taken to the district civil hospital where police were alerted about the incident, the official said. According to PTI report, a female police officer of the Additional Superintendent of Police rank spoke to her in person after which a complaint was lodged. Based on the complaint, a case of rape has been registered against the unidentified autorickshaw driver at Ratnagiri city police station, said an official.

Police have set up a Special Investigation Team consisting of an inspector and ten officials. However, police found discrepancies in the victim’s statement. Initially, she stated that the accused had laced her drinking water with some sedatives. Later, she changed her statement saying the driver used a spray to make her unconscious, the official said, reported PTI.

Meanwhile, several organisations staged a protest outside the hospital in Ratnagiri demanding the arrest of the accused on Tuesday.