Pernem police form team to trace molester of minor

Mapusa: Pernem police on Thursday constituted a team to trace the electricity department employee in connection with the alleged sexual harassment of a 17-year-old girl of the SC community.
After the news broke on Tuesday, which was Ambedkar Jayanti, locals gathered outside the police station to protest and demanded the arrest of the accused. They alleged inaction by police in registering an FIR.
The SC community members in Pernem further alleged that police treated them unfairly because of their identity. The PSI who was initially investigating the case was told to report to the North Goa SP’s office.
Pernem police eventually registered the FIR under various sections of the BNS and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and Section 8(2) of the Goa Children’s Act against the suspect, an electricity department employee.
A source said the PSI was transferred to the North District reserve line, pending an inquiry. A detailed inquiry will be conducted by a DySP, and a report will be submitted within two days.
Police said that the accused, who is not a member of the SC/ST community, allegedly abused the minor — with full knowledge that she belongs to the SC community — while she was on her way to a general store. He allegedly also made derogatory remarks about her modesty.
Police said that the accused allegedly caught hold of the collar of her T-shirt and pulled her towards him. When the girl tried to resist, he allegedly grabbed her hand and tore off her T-shirt, thereby outraging her modesty. He also allegedly threatened to kill her.
The suspect is still at large, police said, and a search operation is under way. Sources said that senior police officers have asked for a detailed investigation report in the case.
Villagers have visited the police station several times since Monday, demanding the immediate arrest of the accused.