A teenage girl was gang-raped by her father’s friend in Thrissur, Kerala. The incident took place when the girl’s father was in police custody for another case and was alone at home.
According to the police, the girl’s father is a drug peddler in the Punnayurkulam area. The rapists who were in the same business often visited their house.
On the day of the incident, the girl was alone at home. Her father was in police custody for another case and her mother had gone out to bail her husband out of the police station.
In spite of being informed about the rape, the mother at first decided not to file a police complaint.
The matter came to the surface when the girl, who was then suffering from incidental trauma, confided in her teacher about the whole incident. The teacher contacted Childline to assist her through this. The girl has been taken under its protection since then. Medical examination has confirmed that the girl was sexually assaulted.
In connection with this case, one of the accused has been arrested. According to police reports, there are two more accused at large. A police investigation is underway to determine if more people are involved.
The police have also stated that action will be taken against the girl’s parents if they fail to provide any information related to people who gang-raped their daughter.
Rape incidents in India
India has seen an increase in rape cases every year, and the number of cases involving minors has also increased in recent years. According to the National Family Health Survey of 2015-16 survey, LiveMint reported that more than 99.1% of rape cases go unreported in India. This was yet another rape case in India involving a teenager that almost went unreported by her parents. The alarming situation calls for greater protection for women and minors and stricter laws against sexual offenses.
