Man held for rape

RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT, Kalimpong, June 13: A probationary clerical staff member of the Kalimpong municipality was arrested from his home last night for allegedly raping a minor on Saturday night.

According to the girl's mother, the 16-year-old child was picked up by Arpan Singh Rajput while she was on her way home after buying grocery items from a fair price shop on Saturday evening. Arpan kept her confined in a garage overnight.

"Arpan forcibly put her on his bike and took her to a garage nearby. She was kept there overnight and he raped her repeatedly. We looked for her everywhere but could not trace her," the mother said.

"My daughter returned home after fleeing from the garage and she told us about the incident".

The girl's family lodged a police complaint against Arpan yesterday.

The Class VIII girl said Arpan repeatedly threatened her and asked her not to reveal anything to anyone.

"Arpan, 24, is the son of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporter Mangal Singh Rajput, who burnt himself to death during the party's agitation for Gorkhaland in the middle of 2013," said a police source.

A police source said Arpan had been booked under Section 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act, 2012. If proved guilty, he could face imprisonment for seven years or lifetime.

Arpan was produced in the Darjeeling sessions judge court today and remanded in judicial custody for 14 days.