Shahjahanpur (Uttar Pradesh), August 1: A shocking case of alleged gang rape involving a nine-year-old Dalit girl has been reported from a village in Shahjahanpur district, where five minors have been booked in connection with the crime, police said on Saturday.
According to Circle Officer (Tilhar) Vidush Saxena, the incident took place on Friday evening while the girl was playing with other children on the grounds of a local school. The accused, aged between 10 and 14 years, allegedly took the child to a nearby field.
As per the First Information Report (FIR), the girl’s family alleged that the five minors sexually assaulted her in the field. The alleged assault came to an end after the owner of the field noticed the children, prompting the accused to flee the spot.
The victim later returned home and informed her mother about the incident. Based on the complaint filed by the family, police registered an FIR late on Friday night and launched an investigation.
Case Registered Under BNS, POCSO and SC/ST Act
Police have registered the case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for gang rape, along with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Officials said the five accused, all of whom are minors, are being questioned in the presence of their guardians in accordance with juvenile justice procedures.
The survivor has been sent for medical examination, and further investigation is underway.
Police have not disclosed the identities of either the survivor or the accused, in keeping with legal provisions protecting the identity of minors and survivors of sexual offences.
