SURAT: A 22-year-old woman was raped by her 47-year-old father for several times in the last one year in Sachin GIDC area of the city. The crime came to light after the rape survivor delivered a child on January 27 in New Civil Hospital (NCH). The woman lodged a complaint against her father Aslam Pathan, a labourer, at Sachin GIDC police station on Monday.

Pathan and his family belong to West Bengal. They have been staying in the city for the last 25 years. Initially, the rape survivor did not reveal the name of child's father, but she did later under family pressure.

She informed the police that she was being raped by her father for the last one year and that her mother was aware about it. "She was raped at their house a number of times when her mother would go out to sell food products and toys. The accused had threatened her of dire consequences if she informed about her sexual exploitation to anyone," police inspector, Sachin GIDC police station, N K Vyas said.

Pathan is a father of four children and the complainant is his second eldest child. Pathan has gone missing after the complainant delivered the child. The rape survivor mustered enough courage to lodge the complaint a month after the delivery on receiving constant encouragement from their neighbours and relatives.

