Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jan 12: A girl from the city was allegedly cajoled by a notorious rowdy sheeter to accompany him to a lodge here. It is said that he kept the girl in confinement in the lodge for three days and during that time, he raped her.

The victim of the incident was admitted into a hospital. She has been sheltered in the rehabilitation centre here. The accused has been identified as Charan alias Sharan from Akash Bhavan here. He has been facing a number of criminal cases registered against him in the past. The police have booked him under the provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and have been probing the complaint. Sharan is absconding now.

Sharan faces over 20 criminal cases including murder, robbery, and rape. His name finds a mention in the rowdy sheeters list maintained by the police.

Sharan has been known to provide training to youngsters in the traditional folk art of coastal Karnataka, tiger dance.   The girl in question had approached him to learn this art. He is said to have convinced the girl with sweet talk to accompany him to a lodge located outside Dakshina Kannada district. He retained her in the lodge for three days and during this time, he has been accused of raping the girl. After the girl fell ill, she was admitted into the government hospital here and treated. It has been a week since the incident happened.

Case under POCSO Act has been registered in the women's police station here. As soon as he came to know that a case has been registered against him, Sharan went missing.