Avellon Williams
AURANGABAD, INDIA- A 17-year-old girl who has alleged that she was raped by over 400 men, including 2 policemen, over 4 to 6 months is shocking.
The Beed Police in India is probing the victim’s claims in a statement given to the Child Welfare Committee that she had been raped by approximately 400 men, including two policemen, over the past four to six months.
A recorded statement was conducted on November 12, days after the victims first report was made to the police.
Sources said the victim was reluctant to lodge a complaint when the incident occurred but decided to give a statement after several sessions of counselling were offered to her.
The police have now launched a fresh probe into the incident and suspect it to be a case of human trafficking and that the minor was forced into flesh trade.
The investigating officer and superintendent of police KavitaNerkar said, “The girl was rescued by an NGO and brought to us, following which an offence was registered on November 8. So far, six men have been arrested and a minor boy has been detained and sent to a correctional home.”
Among those arrested are the girl’s father, the man she was married off to and an alleged pimp.
According to the victims recorded statement, she was married when she was 13 years old, but left her husband due to alleged differences and exploitation by him and subsequently returned to her parents’ home.
Teen alleges rape /Courtesy/
The victim further stated in her recording that after her father allegedly molested her earlier this year, she left home in May or June and had been staying in and around the Ambajogai bus stand, from where the NGO volunteers rescued her.
The Beed police have registered a case of rape, gang rape, molestation and voluntarily causing hurt, besides invoking sections of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Beed superintendent of police R Raja told TOI, “Four days after registration of the first information report, the victim has alleged that she has been raped by 400 men. We are verifying the claim and will act accordingly.”
Rape is a common but under-reported crime in the United States. The problem is that most cases of rape go unreported because the victim fears being blamed for what happened or being further traumatized which can lead to chronic health problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and depression caused by his/her attackers or by society.
The crime is not new but has been seen before in other parts of the world – especially India.
