The Tsirang Police detained a man in his late 30s for an alleged rape of an eight-year-old boy studying in one of the schools in Tsirang.
According to a source, the incident happened on Wednesday afternoon when the victim was returning home from school. The place is around 400-metres from the school campus towards the boy’s home. The source said the child’s grandfather usually waits for him halfway in between the school and home. And on that day, the child walked alone since all his friends had left already. When he met his grandfather at the usual place, he complained about the incident, which was later notified to the school authority by the boy’s mother. The boy was then taken to the hospital, and police were informed.
The suspect was arrested from his home later in the evening. BBS learnt that the suspect allegedly confessed the crime to the police. He is booked for alleged statutory rape. As per the Penal Code of Bhutan 2011, “the offence of statutory rape shall be a felony of the
first degree,” which has a minimum prison term of 15 years to life in prison.
For now, the boy is said to be physically in stable condition but according to a source, the victim’s mother has plans to visit the National Referral Hospital on Sunday for further check-up. The Damphu hospital health officials refused to comment on the boy’s condition when the victim was referred to the hospital on Wednesday evening.
Pema Tshewang, Tsirang
