An 18-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly raping a minor girl using the pretext of marriage.

Vinoy Chaudhary of a village under the Meral police station area was arrested after a 17-year-old minor lodged a complaint. The victim alleged that the man had maintained a physical relationship with her for three years and had also made her pregnant after promising marriage, but later refused to marry her.

The victim approached the police when Chaudhary refused to marry after three years of “exploitation”. “We had been in a relationship for the past three years. He promised to marry me and started a physical relationship. He exploited me sexually on several occasions,” she said in her complaint to the police.

Based on the complaint, the police registered a case under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 4 of the Pocso Act.

Officer in charge Rameshwar Upadhyay said the accused has been arrested and remanded in judicial custody.

The victim’s statement under Section 164 was recorded in the court, and she was produced before the Child Welfare Committee, Garhwa.

“The victim said during interrogation that she was two months pregnant. She has also alleged sexual harassment. She sent to Sadar Hospital for medical examination,” committee chairman Upendra Dubey said.

P. Arrested accused Vinoy Chaudhary sent to the judicial custody, on Monday.

23 cured of virus in district

Twenty-three of the 91 coronavirus patients in the Garhwa district are cured and have been discharged from hospital, a number which has brought some cheer to the district which is among the worst affected in Jharkhand.

After the return in large numbers of migrant workers from other parts of the country, the district had emerged as a major hotspot for the virus in April and May. It also witnessed the shunting of several top officials, including the deputy commissioner and the civil surgeon, over the handling of the situation.

Civil surgeon N.K. Rajak said that 85 of the 91 patients have been cured and discharged.

“Twenty-three more patients have been cured and discharged, taking the total to 85 out of 91 cases. Now, five active Covid-19 cases remain in the district while one has been referred to RIMS. All our corona warriors shall continue to do our best,” Rajak said on Tuesday.

Waterlogging was reported from many areas in Bokaro (Telegraph picture)

Flooding in Bokaro

Waterlogging was reported from parts of Bokaro on Tuesday after heavy showers left homes in several low-lying areas submerged.

Many roadside eateries at the City Centre Market were flooded. Water entered homes in the Bokaro township.

Floodwater also entered the home of district epidemiologist officer Pawan Kumar in Camp-2 area of the town. He was leading the health team involved in collecting swab samples for Covid-19 tests. “Due to heavy rain, water entered my home. The situation is pathetic,” said Kumar.

Covid duo discharged

Two Covid-19 patients who recovered from the infection have been released from Bokaro General Hospital.

They were presented with medical kits and fruit and advised to stay home for 14 days. One of the patients is a resident of Makhdumpur, Siwandih, who came from Mumbai while the other belongs to the Gomia block.

There are three other coronavirus cases from the district, two of whom are at RIMS as they are also cancer patients.

Another patient is still admitted in Bokaro General Hospital.

The condition of the patients is normal, said civil surgeon Dr A.K. Pathak.

Credit line for entrepreneurs

The officials of the Jharkhand Industrial Area Development Authority (JIADA), Bokaro region, on Tuesday sought to intervene in solving the problems faced by entrepreneurs related to disbursement of the Covid-19 Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) from banks.

The government has announced a fresh collateral-free credit limit up to 20% of outstanding credit for the entrepreneurs as a relief in view of the pandemic. A meeting was held under the chairmanship of JIADA, Bokaro region, secretary Sandeep Kumar with bank officials and entrepreneurs at the Balidih office.

Kumar reviewed the ECLGS status and gave necessary directions to banks. He said the bankers had reassured the entrepreneurs.

Security personnel at Mukul Prasad's residence (Telegraph picture)

Job stir

Security was beefed up at the residence of a senior official of Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) in Sector 4 of the city after protesters threatened a sit-in to demand jobs.

Agitators of the Bokaro Mrit Karamchari Sangh gathered at Majdoor Ground with the intention of marching to the home of Mukul Prasad who is executive director, personnel and administration, at BSL.

BSL officials, however, intervened, and convinced the protesters to participate in talks.

The protesters claimed they were children of BSL employees who had lost their lives working at the plant.

Neeraj Choubey, a leader of the outfit, said: “Prasad had assured us jobs at a meeting in January. He understood our problems. We are 500 youths whose fathers died while working at the plant. As per the norms, the BSL management has to provide a job to the dependant of the employee. Our outfit has also got the support of few trade unions.”

A senior public relations officer of BSL said: “Negotiations will be held with agitators.”

Suspected cybercriminal nabbed

A suspected cybercriminal was caught at the behest of an alert official at the Punjab National Bank branch in Giridih. The official noticed his suspicious behaviour on surveillance footage from an ATM in Chirti Bazar, Peertand.

The accused has been identified as Mushtaq Ansari, a resident of Shah Tola in Deoghar. An FIR has been lodged in the cyber police station against the accused on the application of the branch manager, Manmath Nath Molan.