A 13-year-old Dalit girl was reportedly gang-raped by three individuals in a moving vehicle in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, according to local police. The incident has sparked concerns about women's safety in the region.
Officials state that the alleged perpetrators gave the victim a spiked drink before forcing her into a van and driving to a secluded area. After the assault, the suspects reportedly abandoned the girl under a flyover and fled the scene.
The victim's family admitted her to a private hospital, where medical staff confirmed the sexual assault. Following a complaint by the girl's father, police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
"We've filed charges including kidnapping, gang rape of a minor, and sections of the POCSO Act," a police spokesperson said. "The search for the three accused is currently underway."
This case follows a separate incident in Kolkata, where a medical trainee was reportedly raped and murdered at R.G. Kar Hospital.
Women's rights activists have expressed alarm over the perceived increase in sexual violence against women and girls in India, calling for stricter law enforcement and societal changes to address the issue.
