JAIPUR: A 17-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped and raped by a cashier of public health and engineering department (PHED) in Karauli district after being lured with the promise of a free smartphone being given by the state government under a scheme for women.

It was on Thursday, the day the scheme was launched, that the alleged incident took place in Todabhim police station area, but it came to light on Saturday when a video clip of the PHED cashier, Sunil Jangir, being thrashed by the locals became viral on social media. The video shows Jangir, 35, tied to an electric pole and being beaten up. The locals did not inform police, and Jangir managed to flee, but the girl's family lodged a case of kidnap and rape against him on Thursday evening.
Police said Jangir came to the girl's home at 11am on Thursday, when her parents were away and she was alone. "The accused, identified as Sunil Jangir, promised the girl that he would get her a mobile phone under the free smartphone scheme launched by the state government. He asked her to come with him on his vehicle," said SHO Brijesh Kumar Meena of Todabhim police station, quoting the FIR.

Accused showed knife to girl
"The accused asked the girl to inform her mother about it later," said SHO Brijesh Kumar Meena.
Jangir allegedly took the girl to a room belonging to a friend of his and raped her there. "When the girl resisted the rape, the accused showed her a knife and asked her to keep quiet. He then left her at an isolated place at 12 noon and went to his office," added Meena.
After the girl narrated the incident to passersby and to her mother, the locals stopped Jangir on his way to office. "The locals tied the accused to an electric pole and slapped him many times. But they did not inform us and allowed him to go after being thrashed," said Meena.
Police have registered a case under appropriate sections of IPC and POCSO Act for kidnap and rape, said the SHO, adding that efforts are on to arrest the accused.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)