Athlete raped,cops arrest auto driver

According to the police,the girl boarded Dass auto rickshaw when it was raining heavily. Das,who apparently understood that the girl was challenged,reportedly asked other passengers in the auto-rickshaw to get off,saying it would not be possible for him to drive in the rain.

Das then reportedly asked the girl to come to his place at Baruibari till the rain subsided. The girl agreed and went to Dass place where he allegedly raped her through the night.

In the morning,when the girl could finally leave Dass place,neighbours suspected foul play and asked her what the problem was. She somehow conveyed them everything, said a senior police official. The victim then went home and along with her mother put in a written complaint against the accused.

Das was arrested on June 25. The victim was sent for a medical test at the Raigunj Sadar Hospital. The report is awaited, said the official.

Das had been produced in the court and sent to jail custody for 14 days.

The victim,who studies in Class IX at a madrasah,is an ace athlete. According to the principal of Surjodoi deaf and dumb home,Partha Sarathi Das,the girl has received several awards in sports. Besides bagging the State Role Model Prize in 2011,she had won awards in various track and field events from 2003 to 2011 at the state level,the principal said,adding in 2005,she won three gold,four silver and two bronze medals at the national meets.