Bengaluru police constable arrested for 'sexually assaulting' minor girl
Bengaluru, Feb 25 (PTI): A police constable was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor girl here, police said on Tuesday.
Arun Thonepa, who was posted at Bommanahalli police station was arrested and sent to judicial custody, they added.
According to the police, the matter came to light on February 13 when the 17-year-old girl, who was "sexually assaulted" by her neighbour last month claimed that the constable on the pretext of helping her get justice approached her family.
In her complaint, the girl alleged that the constable took her to a lodge where he made her drink alcohol and sexually assaulted her.
He also threatened her to not disclose the incident to anyone or he would leak her private video, a senior police officer said.
As soon as the matter came to our notice, we arrested her neighbour and also the constable who on the pretext of getting her justice, "sexually assaulted" her.
The constable has been suspended from service, he said, adding further investigation is underway.
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UAE condemns 'terrorist' attack on Indian-flagged vessel off Oman coast
Dubai (PTI): The UAE has condemned a strike on an Indian-flagged vessel off the coast of Oman, calling it a "terrorist attack" and a "dangerous escalation" that threatens the stability of critical waterways.
The commercial vessel, which was sailing from Somalia, came under attack on Wednesday, according to India's Ministry of External Affairs.
All 14 crew members were rescued by Omani authorities, but it was not immediately known who carried out the strike, it said.
"The UAE strongly condemns terrorist attack on Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman," the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said in a statement issued on Thursday. "This attack constitutes a grave threat to the security of international navigation and represents a dangerous escalation aimed at undermining the stability of critical waterways."
The incident took place amid the fragile situation in the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway close to the coast of Oman through which roughly one-fifth of the world's energy supplies pass.
It has been severely disrupted by the conflict in West Asia that started on February 28, with the US and Israel launching joint attacks on Iran, triggering retaliatory strikes.
The MoFA further said that the attack on the India-flagged vessel on Wednesday was a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2817, which affirms the importance of freedom of navigation and rejects the targeting of commercial vessels or the obstruction of international maritime routes.
It emphasised that "targeting commercial shipping and using the Strait of Hormuz as a tool of economic coercion or blackmail represent acts of piracy and constitute a direct threat to the stability of the region, its peoples, and global energy security".
The UAE expressed solidarity with India and its support for all measures aimed at safeguarding the security and safety of its vessels and interests, the statement said.
Earlier, India had described the attack as "unacceptable".
At least two other Indian-flagged ships have been attacked since the conflict broke out.
