Surat: Businessman’s alertness saved gangrape survivor from more ordeal

SURAT: Had it not been for this businessman’s alertness, the 13-year-old rape survivor from

Amroli

could have been subjected to more sexual assaults.

On January 5, police had arrested seven persons including 55-year-old Bharat Bhakhar, who allegedly first raped her and then pushed her into prostitution. The girl’s father, a diamond artisan, had borrowed Rs 5,000 from Bhakhar for treatment of his wife’s terminal illness.

Around a month ago, Vijay Patel (named changed), who is into garments business, was with his friend when Bhakhar met the latter offered an 18-year-old as an escort for few days. Patel, who is also engaged in social service, got suspicious and asked his friend to get more details about the girl. After a couple of days, his friend found that the girl lives in Amroli and daughter of a diamond artisan.

Patel got a shock as he knew the girl’s father through some common friends and that she was just 13-year-old.

“I knew that she had recently dropped out from class IX, but was not aware that this was the reason. I started searching for options to reach the family’s house and talk to the girl,” Patel told TOI. He had a fair idea of the family’s poor financial condition, but was not aware that it was so acute. Hence, Patel decided to go and meet the family with a plan to offer some help.

“I offer food and gifts to poor children one day in a week. So I asked the girl’s father to send both daughters at my place. After lunch, Patel asked the survivor if she knew Bhakhar, but she refused. She did not reveal anything, but her younger sister confirmed that Bhakhar visited their house frequently,” he said.

Later, Patel and his wife visited the family couple of times and inquired if they needed any help. Meanwhile, the girl broke her silence during one meeting and revealed to that she was being raped and Bhakhar was the main culprit.

The family is undergoing severe financial crisis due to heavy spending on the treatment of girl’s mother who is bed-ridden.

“I was waiting for confirmation from the girl after which I talked to the father and he agreed to lodge a complaint,” Patel added.

A senior police officer told TOI: “The businessman played a key role in helping police nab the culprits. The survivor was reluctant initially, but due to constant follow-up and counselling by the businessman, she could be rescued.

Along with Bhakhar, police had arrested Yogesh Senjaliya Sunil Vaghela, Kaushik Senjaliya, Bharat Barvaliya, Jagdish Mayani and Sandip Shivram Gupta and booked them under IPC sections of

gangrape

, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) and The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.

(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)

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