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	Two Held on Rape Charge Efforts Are on to Arrest the Rest of the Accused in the Case The Hindu [India] June 30, 2006 http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/30/stories/2006063022270300.htm Thiruvananthapuram: The Pettah police have arrested two persons, including a pastor, in connection with the rape of an 18-year-old Dalit girl. Circle Inspector, Pettah, Salim Kumar, identified the accused as Stellus (48) and Lear (45). Stellus is a music teacher hailing from Pattoor and Lear works as a pastor for a religious mission. According to the police, Stellus had sexually exploited the girl while she was his student. Lear has been accused by the police of raping the girl after she joined the religious mission. The police were looking for one Sivaji of Pettah and Reji of Barton Hill in connection with the case. An Excise department guard is also likely to figure as accused in the case along with nine others. The accused were produced before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate here on the charge of rape under section 376 of the Indian Penal Code and remanded to 14 days in judicial custody. The case came to light after the girl was rescued by the police from a bus stand in Alappuzha. Earlier, her mother had given a complaint to the Museum police station that her daughter had been missing for several months. The police said the girl was raped by several people at various locations in the State. Efforts were on to arrest the rest of the accused in the case, according to police. Held for raping minor girl The Kazhakuttom police have arrested a 24-year-old auto rickshaw driver on the charge of raping a 16-year-old girl. Circle Inspector, Kazhakuttom, Muhammad Iqbal, identified the accused as Santosh. He is a resident of Pothencode. He was produced before the court on the charge of rape and remanded to 14 days in judicial custody. Mr. Iqbal said that the accused had sexually exploited the girl by giving a false assurance that he would marry her. He said Santosh was already married with two children. The rape case was registered on the basis of a complaint given by the girl's mother. Escapes arrest A group of 30 people, including women, on Wednesday night prevented the police from arresting a person wanted for the past 10 years in a dowry harassment case. The police identified the wanted man as 'Ottathadi' Raju, a resident of Cheriathura. The incident took place when a police team from Valiathura arrived at Cheriathura to arrest Raju. Meanwhile, the relatives of Raju have accused the police of chasing Raju into the sea. According to the local people, Raju is missing at sea since Wednesday night. The Valiathura police have denied the allegation. An official said that none of Raju's relatives have lodged a man missing complaint with the local police. The police suspect Raju to have escaped to Tamil Nadu. Succumbs to injuries A 59-year old woman Sr. Aneeta, was fatally injured on Thursday after she lost her footing and fell, while trying to alight from a KSRTC bus at Vembayam. She was the hostel warden at Lourde Matha Engineering College, Kuttichal. Though she was rushed to the Medical College hospital, she died on the way. The body has been kept in the MCH mortuary. Brought dead A 41-year-old woman, who is suspected to have ingested some poisonous substance, was brought dead to the Medical College hospital. She was identified as Mary Celin, a resident of Udiyankulangara. The body has been kept in the mortuary.
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