Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Mar 1: As if to prove the adage which says that thought of shame and fear does not restrain those who are driven by lust is true, it is alleged that a 70-year-old man raped a 22-year-old lady, who is mentally retarded. The man has been arrested by the personnel of Ashoknagar police station here.

The accused has been identified as Dastagir Khan (70), a resident of Bazar Street, Neelasandra here. He has 15 children including three daughters, and tens of grandchildren.

He targeted the second daughter of Shashikala, his neighbour. The victim is one of the four children of Shashikala. She had developed this condition because of brain fever which afflited her during her childhood, and is unable to properly convey her feelings or thoughts. She is being treated by doctors of NIMHANS in the city, and is usually left alone at home, as her mother too is a working woman.

On Tuesday, Dastagir Khan visited her couple of times to enquire about the girl’s health. He noticed that Shashikala was away at work, and the elder brother of the girl had gone out. In the afternoon, Khan suddenly barged into his neighbour’s home, and raped the girl, who was watching a television programme. To ensure that no one else hears the cries of help let out by the desperate lady, he increased the volume of the television. He rushed to his home only after the brother of the girl returned home some time later.

The girl told her mother what had happened, after the latter came home in the evening. The policemen, after preliminary inquiry, have arrested the old man. The girl as well as the accused will be subjected to medical tests, they said.