9-year-old raped in MP by brother-in-law, 2 others

THE SURVIVOR’S 32YEAROLD SISTER WAS ALSO ARRESTED FOR ABETTING THE CRIME. A SEARCH HAS BEEN LAUNCHED FOR TWO OTHERS WHO WERE NAMED BY THE GIRL

Police in Gwalior arrested three people, including the brother-in-law of a nineyear-old girl late on Friday for allegedly raping her over the last few weeks.

The survivor’s 32-year-old sister was also arrested for abetting the crime. A search has been launched for two others who were named by the girl. The accused have also been booked under provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012. According to the police, after the girl’s parents died a few years ago, she was living with her sister and 35-year-old brother-in-law in Gwalior.

On March 31, a neighbour called the Child Line to complain that the girl was being physically tortured. A team rescued the girl and shifted her to Matrichaya shelter home.

At the shelter home, she told the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) about how she was being sexually exploited for last few weeks. After her medical examination, police swung into action,

Sexual violence and increasing crime against women have become major concerns in Madhya Pradesh. In August last year, a three-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in a Gwalior school. The girl, a nursery student, later identified the suspects from photographs.

In February this year, a fouryear-old girl was allegedly raped in a toilet of a school in Jabalpur district. According to the fresh data submitted in the ongoing assembly session, 11 women were raped daily and six gangraped every week in the state on an average during the past year.

Over half the rape victims were minors. The figures presented in the assembly for last six months coupled with figures submitted to the House in July last year show that between February 1, 2016 and mid-february 2017, 4279 women were raped and 248 gang-raped in MP. Of 4279 rape victims, 2260 are minors.