Hyderabad: Rapido rider’s courage, timely action saves girl from rapist

Hyderabad: Karamthot Kalyan, a 26-year-old Rapido rider, became a hero overnight when he rescued a six-year-old girl from the clutches of a 19-year-old who was about to rape her near the Errum Manzil metro station in Hyderabad. Kalyan’s quick thinking and bravery saved the girl from a traumatic and potentially life-altering experience.

Kalyan, who is from Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh, moved to Hyderabad looking for a change in career from mechanical engineer to software engineer. He is currently taking coaching classes in the city. During the day, he attends classes, and after completing his classes, he works for the bike taxi app Rapido as a rider. On the night of the incident, Kalyan was waiting near the metro station for a client when he saw the girl in a dark corner and the man behind her.

“I found the man exposing himself and the girl in a discomfited position. The man claimed to be the girl’s father, but the girl refuted the claim. My suspicion grew stronger. I asked him the girl’s name and then asked the girl her name. Both names were different, and the girl also said her father was no more and that she stays with her mother,” Kalyan said.

Realising the severity of the situation, Kalyan immediately called the police, who arrested the suspect and identified him as Afroz Khan, a fruit vendor. The girl’s family members, who were searching for her for the past two hours, rushed to the police station and heaved a sigh of relief upon seeing her safe.

Kalyan’s bravery and quick thinking were praised by the police and the community. Additional director general of police, women safety, Shikha Goel felicitated Kalyan and said, “The timely action of Kalyan is commendable, and he set himself as an example to the society as a saviour of girl child by reporting the offense mandated under POCSO Act. His action is an inspiration to the youth in keeping a check on offenses against children and women.”

Kalyan, however, was humble and credited his actions to his upbringing. He said, “My parents were proud of me. They believe in doing the right thing, no matter the consequences. They encouraged me to file FIR against Afroz Khan and said they are with me. I couldn’t have lived with myself if I had done nothing and something had happened to that girl.”

His bravery has made him an inspiration to the youth, and he hopes his actions will encourage others to take action when they witness any wrongdoing. “I hope my actions inspire others to do the right thing and stand up against injustice, no matter how small or big the situation may be,” he said.

He emphasised the importance of parents being vigilant about their children’s whereabouts during summer break. He said, “In the summertime, kids tend to wander around more, so parents need to be extra careful about knowing where their children are.”

Additionally, he spoke about the importance of seeking help from the authorities in case of any issues. He recalled the advice given by Shikha Goel and said, “If there is any problem, one should immediately contact the police or SHE teams for help.”