In a shocking incident in Telangana’s Peddapalli district, a 17-year-old girl was raped by three men, reportedly for several months. The girl was impregnated, but the family only came to know about the crime when she suddenly developed labour pains and was taken to a hospital. The minor prematurely gave birth to a stillborn, and it was only then that her family realised she had been pregnant for eight months.
The three accused are aged between 22 and 25 years, and are working as drivers and labourers. The main accused had told the survivor that he wanted to marry her. He and his friends then sexually exploited the girl for several months.
The 17-year-old lives with her mother and father, who are agricultural labourers. Peddapalli CI, G Narendar, told TNM, “According to the victim, the man and his friends continued to sexually exploit her when her parents were not around.”
The sexual assaults began nine months ago, in March-April 2018, investigators said. But this went unnoticed since the perpetrators were known to the victim’s family.
“Four days back, the girl was taken to a hospital after she developed labour pain. She gave birth to a stillborn, and then came to the police along with her parents and filed a complaint,” an investigating officer said.
The police have registered a case against the three accused under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and IPC 376 (D), along with other relevant sections. According to officials, they have sought the Child Welfare Department's intervention in the case. The accused are in police custody and will be remanded.
The survivor is currently under medical observation, and her condition is stable.