from Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (GA)

Panaji, Dec 10: After German minor rape case, another case of statutory rape on minor is staring at Goa police, who are yet to register the complaint.
 
A 17-year-old girl victim gave birth to a baby on December 3 even as Goa police feigned innocence on how to proceed with the case without any formal complaint.
 
"We have not received any complaint on this case," deputy superintendent of Police Sammy Tavares said.
 
Tavares said that the girl has completed 17 years, when she gave birth to a baby at Goa medical college and hospital and the statutory rape can be registered only if girl is below 16 years of age.
 
"Goa Children's Act 2003 mentions that the statutory rape can be registered, if girl is below 16 years of age," the deputy superintendent of police, said.
 
The Children Right activists, however, rubbish the police justifications.
 
"It is the duty of police officer to register the complaint under Goa Children's Act 2003," Nishta Desai, Director, Child Rights Goa (CRG), said.
 
Desai who is a leading child right activist in the state said that the police should have suo moto taken cognizance of the case and probed it, as soon as they received the information because it involves a minor.
 
"Under the Goa Children's Act any officer of the government can file a complaint with the police if the victim is a minor. What minimum police can do is to start investigating the matter," she said.
 
Goa police were in a tight spot after they were criticized by High Court for badly handling German minor rape case which allegedly involved Rohit, son of Goa's Education  MInister Atanasio Monserratte.