Bengaluru, 24 Feb

Bengaluru, India's Silicon Valley, is grappling with a wave of sexual assault cases involving minors, sparking concern over the City's safety. Two separate incidents in the past five days, coupled with a recent gang rape in Koramangala on 21 February, have shaken the City.

A police constable and another man were arrested on Friday for allegedly sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in Bommanahalli.

According to the complaint, the accused— was a married man—and stayed in the neighbourhood befriended the victim last year. After several meetings, he reportedly formed a close relationship and later got intimate with the promise of marriage.

Eventually, the girl confided in her mother about the relationship, prompting her to file a complaint.

Constable Arun, initially tasked with the investigation, is accused of raping the victim. Under the guise of offering her a job, he lured her to a hotel in BTM Layout in December 2024, where he allegedly drugged and raped her. He then threatened her with the release of private videos if she spoke out. The case initially registered at Mico Layout police station, was transferred to Bommanahalli following a thorough inquiry. Both suspects have been arrested and remanded to Parappana Agrahara Central Prison.

In another case, HAL police have launched a search for a security guard accused of raping a 17-year-old student on 19 February after luring her to an isolated location in the area.

According to the complaint filed by the victim’s mother, the girl, a Class 10 student residing within the HAL police station limits, was approached by the security guard in the neighbourhood, who allegedly gained her trust before persuading her to accompany him to a secluded spot. There, he reportedly raped her before fleeing.

The police have registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and are searching for the absconding accused.