11 visitors arrested for assaulting two minor siblings in Goa
The Goa Police today arrested 11 tourists, who had come to the coastal state of Goa from Pune in neighboring Maharashtra, for allegedly assaulting and molesting two minor siblings at Baga beach in North Goa district. Two of the 11 accused arrested were juveniles, aged 15, and they were sent to a state-run protection home, Calangute police station's Jivba Dalvi said.
Accused clicked pictures of girl, assaulted brother when he objected
The siblings, a 17-year-old boy, and his 16-year-old sister were sitting yesterday in a shack on the Baga beach, while their parents were having food nearby. At that time, a group of 11 visitors from Pune started clicking pictures of the girl, Dalvi said. "When the boy objected to the group taking photos of his sister, they allegedly slapped and beat him," he said.
Accused nabbed before they could leave the state
The Calangute Police subsequently nabbed all the accused before they could leave Goa, Dalvi said. Dalvi said during the course of the investigation, the police recorded statements of the minor siblings in the presence of members of an NGO working for child rights. Based on a complaint, the police registered a First Information Report (FIR) and arrested the visitors, he said.
Mobile phone used to click pictures sent to lab
"The mobile phone which was used to click pictures of the girl was confiscated from the accused and will be sent to a forensic laboratory for analysis," Dalvi said. Offenses were registered against all the accused under IPC sections 354 (molestation), 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), and 323 (causing hurt), and relevant provisions of the Goa Children's Act, he added.
