Goa minor rape victim to undergo age determination test

A minor girl, who has accused Goa MLA Atanasio Monserrate of rape, will undergo an ossification test to determine her age, a police source said on Tuesday.

"The bone test is necessary because of her two certificates with different dates of birth," the police official familiar with the probe told IANS.

However, as per the dates on both the certificates, the accused was a minor when the crime was allegedly committed in March.

"The test will remove any doubt the accused can raise at the trial stage," the official said.

Monserrate, an unattached legislator from St. Cruz in north Goa and a former education minister, was accused of 'buying' the girl, drugging her and then raping her on numerous occasions.

After a complaint was filed on May 4, Monserrate was arrested, along with the girl's mother and an alleged pimp, who facilitated the deal.

The trio is currently in Crime Branch custody.

--IANS

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