Uppinangady: Police arrest five in connection with abduction, rape of minor girl; another absconding
Uppinangady: Uppinangady Police on Tuesday arrested five people in connection with abduction and rape of a minor girl and booked them under POCSO Act here in Uppinangady. The Police is now looking for the sixth accused in the case who is absconding.
The arrested accused have been identified as Chandraksh (25), Sandeep Kumar (23) of Uruwalu village, Harshendra (24) of Kaniyuru village, Love Kumar (27) of Kaniyuru, and Laxmish Charan (24) of Shishil village.
Chandraksh has been charged for abducting the girl and under sections of POCSO Act while the other four have been charged under POCSO Act. Another accused Mithun is reportedly absconding and the police has launched manhunt for him.
On June 17, family of a minor girl had lodged a missing complaint at Uppinangady Police Station. The girl was later traced by Hassan Police while she was on her way to Bengaluru.
She was accompanied by Chandraksha who allegedly raped her and arranged her to stay at his aunt’s house in Bengaluru. It was later reported that the girl was raped by six men. Investigating the matter the police on Tuesday arrested five and booked them under POCSO Act.
Police added that the girl was sent to Counselling Centre and the five accused will be produced in the court, while another arrest is yet to be made.
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Nearly 4,000 pilgrims set sail for Katchatheevu islet to participate in annual two-day festival
Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu) (PTI): Nearly 4,000 Indian pilgrims on Friday set sail for the uninhabited Katchatheevu islet to participate in the annual two-day festival, which will officially commence at 4 pm at the St Antony’s Church, officials said.
The festival marks a significant moment of shared cultural and religious heritage between India and Sri Lanka.
The first batch of devotees was flagged off from the Rameswaram fishing harbour at approximately 6 am by Ramanathapuram District Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon.
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According to official records, a total of 3,996 registered pilgrims -- comprising 3,033 men, 726 women, and 150 children -- are crossing the Palk Strait in a fleet of 118 boats, which includes 92 mechanised trawlers and 26 country boats.
The festival will officially commence with a traditional flag-hoisting ceremony. This will be followed by the 'Way of the Cross' procession and a late-night chariot festival, where the statue of the patron saint will be carried around the shrine by Sri Lankan Navy personnel, sources said.
Strict security measures are in place, with the Indian Coast Guard and Customs department conducting a three-tier verification process at the Rameswaram jetty. All pilgrims were required to produce their Aadhaar cards and a mandatory Police No Objection Certificate (NOC).
Authorities have strictly prohibited the carriage of plastic items, alcohol, and excessive jewellery.
According to official sources, all vessels are equipped with adequate life jackets and are being escorted by Coast Guard hovercrafts up to the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).
The festivities will reach their peak on Saturday morning with a Special High Mass conducted by the Bishops of Jaffna and Colombo in both Tamil and Sinhala. The event will conclude with the lowering of the flag, after which the Indian pilgrims will begin their return journey.
To facilitate the event, the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department has enforced a total fishing ban in the region until March 1, leaving over 1,000 local boats moored at the docks to ensure clear passage for the pilgrim fleet.
The islet was ceded to Sri Lanka by India by ways of two agreements in 1970s.
