Another Rape Reported From Goa Even As Outrage Continues Against CM's Comment Blaming Parents

Goa has been left shocked after a third rape case was reported from the state this week.

On Thursday, Goa Police arrested two people for allegedly raping a 25-year-old woman from the northeast for three days after confining her in a flat.

The woman had reached Goa on July 26, on the invitation of one of the two accused, Shambhunath Singh, a resident of Delhi, who offered her a job.

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However, after she reached Goa, she was confined to her flat was allegedly raped by Singh and his co-accused, identified as Sudhakar Naik, a resident of South Goa.

The incident came to light on Thursday, after the woman escaped from the flat and called the police control room.

Following this, the two men have been arrested and an FIR has been registered under Sections 376 (rape) and 343 (wrongful confinement) of the Indian Penal Code, police said.

Two minors sexually abused

The incident comes at a time when the BJP-led government in Goa is under fire over two cases where minor girls were sexually abused.

What made things even worse is the victim-blaming by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.

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Speaking in the assembly on Wednesday, Sawant blamed parents for the rape of two minor girls at a South Goa beach on the night of July 24.

Victim-blaming

Sawant had said that parents should introspect why their wards were hanging out on beaches after nightfall.

¡°When 14-year-olds stay on the beach the whole night, the parents need to introspect. Just because children don't listen, we cannot put the responsibility on the government and police,¡± he had said during a debate in the House.

The chief minister, who also holds the home portfolio, further said that parents have a responsibility to ensure the safety of their children.

CM under fire

This however did not go down well, and Goa Congress spokesperson Altone D'Costa said the law and order situation has deteriorated in the state. "Why should we fear while moving around at night? Criminals should be in jail and law-abiding citizens should be out freely moving around,¡± he said.

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Goa Forward Party MLA and former Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai has demanded an apology from the Chief Minister.

"The Chief Minister owes an apology to the parents of the minor girls. Such an irresponsible statement, it is a very insensitive statement by the CM, when actually he should be comforting the parents, giving them solace and courage by his timely action to prevent further such instances," he said.

Taken out of context

Under fire from various corners, Sawant on Friday claimed that his statement was taken out of context, and added that the safety of minors has to be a ¡°shared responsibility¡±.

He also said that he was deeply pained by the incident and would ensure that the accused in the case get the ¡°most stringent punishment under the law¡±.

In a statement, Sawant said, ¡°My statement about the unfortunate incident was taken out of context.¡±

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¡°Both - as the head of a responsible government and as a father of a 14 year old daughter, I was deeply pained and disturbed. The pain of this incident is inexplicable,¡± he added.

The chief minister said that there is a curfew imposed in the state, and people are restricted at public places.

¡°So, when I spoke about a shared responsibility for minor children, it was out of concern, care and love for my fellow citizens and our children,¡± he added.