Bengaluru Rape Case: PG Owner Arrested for Assaulting College Girl Just Days After She Moved In

Bengaluru Tenant Rape: In yet another deeply disturbing Bengaluru rape case, a 21-year-old college student has accused the owner of her paying guest (PG) accommodation of sexually assaulting her. After the girl filed a police complaint and an FIR was filed at the local police station, the accused, Ashraf, was arrested.

The student claims that she had just moved into the PG near Soladevanahalli, Bengaluru, ten days ago. She was staying as a paying guest on Ashraf’s property after moving to the city from another town to attend college. She had no idea that the person who was supposed to keep her safe would become her worst nightmare.

As per the FIR, the incident took place in the early hours of August 2. The girl said that Ashraf suddenly came into her room at the PG at 12:41 a.m. and told her that if she wanted to stay there and get food, she had to “cooperate” with him. Shocked by his words, the girl refused and tried to stop the conversation. However, Ashraf is said to have become hostile and tormentedly held her hand. He then dragged her out of the room, pushed her into a car, and drove her to an unknown location.

In addition, Ashraf is accused of sexually assaulting her after transporting her to a private room in the complaint. “On the night of 2nd August, around 12:41 am, I was sitting at our PG when Ashraf came and said he would provide food and stay only if I cooperated with him. I refused. After that, he grabbed my hand, dragged me to a car, and then took me to a different room. In her statement to the police, the student stated, “There, he forced himself on me.” She also mentioned that she tried to send her live location to a friend during the ordeal but was unable to do so.

“Between 1:30 am and 2:15 am, after the incident, he dropped me back at the PG as if nothing had happened,” she added.

This incident has once more brought to light the growing concerns regarding the safety of Bengaluru’s PG accommodations for women. Just last month, another similar Bengaluru rape case came to light where a PG owner had allegedly raped a student staying on his premises. With two back-to-back incidents of this nature, female students and working women staying in PGs across the city are now feeling scared and insecure.

Ashraf was swiftly detained by the police after the student made her complaint. Under the Indian Penal Code, he has been charged with rape, kidnapping, and wrongful confinement. A medical test has been conducted, and the police are also recording statements from other PG residents and collecting CCTV footage from nearby areas to support the investigation.

Senior police officers have assured that a thorough investigation will be done. “We have taken the matter seriously. The suspect has been apprehended. A detailed investigation is underway. An officer from Soladevanahalli Police Station stated, “We are also checking to see if he has done something similar to others in the past.” In the meantime, this rape case in Bengaluru has sparked outrage on social media, with many people calling for tighter regulations and checks on PG accommodations throughout the city. Activists and students’ unions are calling for a verified registration system and regular inspections of PGs, especially those accommodating girls and young women.

This serves as a shocking reminder of the fact that many PGs in Bengaluru are neither registered nor monitored. Students come from different parts of the country to study here, trusting that PG owners will give them a safe stay. However, incidents like these are destroying that trust,” stated city-based student activist Anjali Rao. Counseling and legal help are being provided to the survivor, who is currently under medical observation. Women’s rights groups have stepped forward to support her, offering both emotional and legal aid.

This is not just an isolated incident. The recent increase in PG accommodation-related rape cases in Bengaluru demonstrates a troubling pattern in which vulnerable young women, frequently new to the city, are being exploited by those who are supposed to provide them with safety.

It serves as a wake-up call to the city’s authorities to enforce stringent regulations, conduct thorough background checks, and ensure proper surveillance of all PGs and hostels. As the investigation continues, many hope that justice will be served quickly in this case, and that the city takes stronger steps to ensure women’s safety – not just in public spaces but also in private accommodations.