Gangtok: Sikkim Police have taken eight individuals into custody in connection with the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl in the Gyalshing district. The arrests include four adult men and four boys.
The authorities initiated action after receiving a formal complaint from the Child Welfare Committee on April 11th. This complaint was lodged after the girl’s school raised concerns about her well-being and frequent ill health.
Initial investigations and counseling sessions with the young survivor revealed a disturbing sequence of events. The girl disclosed that a woman from her neighborhood would routinely summon her under the guise of assisting with household chores. According to police reports, this woman allegedly coerced the minor into sexual acts, which also involved her husband.
Further revelations indicated the involvement of two additional men, who were allegedly brought in, and the girl was reportedly forced to engage in sexual activity with them in exchange for monetary compensation.
The survivor also identified four boys who she alleges sexually assaulted her over the past year. Based on the girl’s detailed statement, the police promptly arrested the woman, her husband, and the two other men. The four juvenile suspects were also taken into custody.
Currently, the young girl is under the care and protection of the Child Welfare Committee, where she is receiving necessary counseling and medical attention. Police have confirmed that a case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
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