A 10-year-old Dalit girl has been sexually assaulted allegedly by three persons, who included her cousin (A1), his relative (A2), who is a minor boy, and Pathan Khadar Khan, friend of A2’s father, under the Eluru Division police limits in Eluru district.
The incident had come to light after the victim’s mother lodged a written complaint with the police on July 21.
The police on July 22 (Saturday) arrested two persons, including the A1 and Khadar Khan.
The victim had enrolled herself in a welfare hostel in 2022, where she was studying in Class V. The victim’s relatives reside in a village close to the welfare hostel.
On July 16, the arrested persons had allegedly gang-raped the victim.
On July 18, the victim had shared her ordeal with the hostel authorities when the prime accused allegedly insisted upon her to accompany him. The victim refused to oblige, and complained to the hostel authorities about her plight. The authorities later took the issue to the notice of the victim’s mother.
“The accused have allegedly been sexually assaulting the victim for the past four months,” Eluru DSP (Law and Order) and Investigation Officer E. Srinivasulu told The Hindu.
“The condition of the victim is normal,” he added..
“The prime accused used to take the victim to his house and allegedly sexually assault her in the absence of his mother. Later, the minor boy too started sexually assaulting her with the support of the prime accused,” Eluru Superintendent of Police D. Mary Prasanthi said in a release.
Cases registered
The police have registered cases against the arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
