Jan 31, 2013 : For Kerala woman raped by 42 men, relief from Supreme Court

Reported by A Vaidyanathan and Sneha Mary Koshy, Edited by Ashish Mukherjee | Updated: January 31, 2013 17:30 IST

New Delhi: A long and lonely battle for a woman who was raped by 42 different men over 40 days showed some results today. The Supreme Court over-ruled the verdict of the Kerala High Court which found just one man guilty. The Supreme Court has ordered the High Court to re-examine the evidence presented, and present its decision within six months.

The survivor, from Suryanelli in Kerala's Idukki district, was just 16 when a bus conductor used photographs of her to blackmail her. She was passed from one man to another and moved across the border to Tamil Nadu where she was eventually abandoned.

In 2005, the Kerala High Court acquitted 35 men who were suspects, and sentenced one to five years in jail. The court said she appeared to have been a willing participant, but the Supreme Court today said this observation was incorrect and based on an incomplete inquiry.

In December, 2005, an appeal against the High Court acquittal was filed in the Supreme Court  by the woman and the Kerala government. Till this month, the case had not been heard even once, demonstrating how slow trials suggest that sexual offenders are rarely held accountable. Recently, the Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir expressed his concern over the delay in hearing the case, and promised to fast-track it.
Link: For Kerala woman raped by 42 men, relief from Supreme Court

Feb 1, 2013: 95% women feel unsafe outdoors

By Shreya Roy Chowdhury & Jayashree Nandi, TNN | Feb 1, 2013, 07.08 AM IST

NEW DELHI: The figures confirm what women stepping out of home know instinctively — they are unsafe in Delhi. The majority of men (51%) surveyed in a recent study by the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), admitted to committing acts of sexual violence. An even greater number (78%) said they had witnessed it, but only 15.8% said they intervened. Even women don't intervene in cases of sexual violence, the study found. 

The ICRW study, done in collaboration with UN Women, Delhi government and Delhi-based NGO, Jagori, sought information from about 2,000 women and 1,000 men aged 16 to 49. It covered Malviya Nagar, Badarpur, Molarband, Zakir Nagar, Hari Nagar, Shahpur Jatand Mayur Vihar-I during October-November, 2012. 

Activist Albina Shakeel says three reasons make Delhi a difficult city for women. First, it's located in northwest India, which is the most backward region in terms of sex ratio and women's rights. Second, the presence of more than 350 villages within the city. "In one part of Hauz Khas, women live in purdah. Another is one of the most cosmopolitan spots in the city," she says. 

Social and financial disparities in Delhi society, Shakeel says, are the third problem. "The Delhi Human Development Report 2006 says Delhi is one of the most unequal cities in the country in terms of caste and income." 

Of the women polled, 90% sexual said they violence 2 had experienced in public spaces at some point. But 60% experienced it within the last six months. More than half — 51.6% — faced comments, jokes and obscene gestures while 20.6% were touched or groped. 

Women generally do not report the violence and harassment they face. Of the women who said they were "flashed" (faced indecent exposure from men), 71.2% did not react. And when they react, they confront the doers themselves. In 58% cases of groping, women confronted the perpetrator but only 0.7% complained to police. The ratio of cases reported is negligible: 0.8% for harassment by comments or jokes, and 0.6% for flashing. Stalking is reported more often, but only relatively — 7.7% women say they have complained. 

The study says many women dismiss their experiences as "minor"; many stay quiet fearing retaliation from the accused. Of the women who faced comments or obscene gestures, 21% did not report in fear "of hurting family reputation". 

"Many women...feel ashamed about sexual harassment they may face on a bus," explains Nandita Bhatla, senior technical specialist, ICRW, "Or that they deserve it because they dared to tip-toe outside the 'boundaries' drawn for them by men." 

While women dwell in fear individually, they do not help others — 30% said they have witnessed an act of sexual violence, but less than a third intervened. 

"Changing the mindset of people is a process. We should start by instituting a system which will impose an appropriate punishment for the crime," says Kavita Krishnan, secretary, All India Progressive Women's Association (AIPWA), "One way of ending impunity is to stop making excuses and tolerating crime." 

Krishnan also suggests making public spaces more populated. Street vendors who can serve as eyes and ears for the police can help in that respect. But women, too, have worked out survival strategies. A girl writes in a blog — "React when it's safe to, run for life when you must." 

Even colony roads unsafe 

It's not a city women feel safe in. The ICRW study shows only 5% of women respondents feel safe in public spaces. And the neighbourhood is not a better place either — 72% women said they faced sexual violence in their own colonies or localities. 

The feeling is echoed in a Delhi woman's blog: "This is not a safe city....Stay aware. Be careful and at all times know that you are the disadvantaged gender... It doesn't matter how educated you are, how much money you have, or the places you go to... your well-being is a matter of chance." 

As many as 10.3% of the women polled don't step out of home alone even in daytime; more than 20% don't after dark. Women were asked to rate public spaces for safety on a scale of five — the maximum standing for "totally safe". Only 9.4% women said they feel "totally safe" in public spaces of their colonies. Interestingly, more women feel unsafe on streets (57.3%) and in public transport (31.5%) than around liquor stores (18.8%). 

While 99% women respondents agreed that sexual violence should be reported to "any authority", only 7.9% knew of the existence of a helpline; of them, 37% told the surveyor they "didn't remember the number" and another 31% said 100. Only 6% (of the 7.9%) knew the 1091 helpline number. Shockingly, 14% women feel it's up to them to end violence against women. Nandita Bhatla, technical specialist of ICRW, describes this syndrome as an "internalization of patriarchal norms". 

Activist and former student leader Albina Shakeel says the attack on women in public spaces is like an automatic response of a patriarchal society to the changing roles of women. "They have been restricted to private spaces for long but their roles are changing now. They're coming out more often into the public. It is a patriarchal backlash that is trying to push them back inside," observes Shakeel. "It is also an issue of identity," she adds, "women have been seen in conventional roles of mother, daughter, sister or wife. Once they step out, they become public sexual property." The male attitude is: women out of home are fair game.
Link: 95% women feel unsafe outdoors

Jan 31, 2013: Govt set to clear lifelong jail for rape and murder

By Vishwa Mohan, TNN | Jan 31, 2013, 01.23 AM IST

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has promised swift action on the recommendations of the Justice JS Verma committee amid strong indications that the government is ready to toughen laws dealing with crimes against women by providing for life imprisonment for rape-murder and addition of new offences such as disrobing of women, voyeurism, stalking and trafficking. 

Sources said the Justice Verma panel's recommendations pertaining to gang rape — punishing the guilty with rigorous imprisonment (minimum 20 years extendable to a jail term for the duration of a convicted person's natural life), identification of gang rape causing death or causing the victim to be in a persistent vegetative state as a new offence, and increased punishment for repeat offenders — will find place in the amended legislation. 

Sources also said the ministry was in agreement with the grounds that the Justice Verma panel cited to reject the clamour for death penalty and chemical castration as punishment for rapists. 

PM vows action 

PM Singh on Wednesday assured Justice Verma in a letter that his committee's recommendations in the wake of the Nirbhaya case would be acted on promptly. "On behalf of our government, I assure you that we will be prompt in pursuing the recommendations of the committee," the PM said in his letter. 

The letter addressed Justice Verma's comments that the government could ignore his recommendations only at its own peril. It also appeared to be aimed at aligning government with the popular outrage in the wake of the rape and death of Nirbhaya, given that Justice Verma had complained that the report was received by a middle level bureaucrat. 

Singh is learnt to have extended the assurance to Justice Verma after getting feedback on the panel's recommendations from home minister Sushilkumar Shinde who on Wednesday held detailed discussions with his ministry officials. 

Shinde later told the media that his ministry would act swiftly on all "actionable" suggestions. Without giving any timeframe, he said, "We will implement it as soon as possible." 

An official said, "A final decision on any of these clauses will be taken after considering views of the parliamentary standing committee on home affairs which is expected to discuss the Justice Verma panel's report on February 4." 

He said the "actionable" suggestions would find its way through official amendment to theCriminal Amendment Bill that was introduced in Parliament in December last year. 

The Justice Verma panel suggested introducing new sections to deal with offences like disrobing a woman - such incidents are regularly reported from all over the country and are part of sexual assaults or acts of revenge, including caste animus. Voyeurism, stalking and trafficking are also likely to be dealt with specifically. 

Offences like passing lewd remarks, gestures, sounds or acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman are covered under Section 509 of the IPC but certain amendments are needed to precisely define 'gestures' and objectionable words. 

Sources feel amendments are needed to remove ambiguity in the law so that cops can improve their prospects of securing a conviction against offenders. 

At present, Section 509 says, "Whoever intending to insult the modesty of any woman, utters any word, makes any sound or gesture, or exhibits any object, intending that such word or sound be heard, or that gesture shall be seen by such woman, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both."
Link: Govt set to clear lifelong jail for rape and murder

Jan 31, 2013: Man held for raping his minor daughter

PTI | Jan 31, 2013, 04.17 AM IST

JABALPUR: A 40-year-old man was on Wednesday arrested for allegedly raping his minor daughter at their house, police said. "The accused identified asDashailal Uike sexually assaulted his 15-year-old daughter at his house in Badhaiyakhedi village on Monday when she was sleeping alone in her room, while her mother and sister in another room", said Bargi police station in-charge Purshottam Pandey.

Uike was arrested after the girl and her mother lodged a complaint against him on Tuesday under section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). "Medical examination of the victim confirmed rape", said investigating officer Sushmita Niyogi.

According to the rape survivor, Uike committed the act after threatening to kill her if she resisted his advances. "Uike initially tried to mislead the police saying he mistook his daughter for his wife as he was under the influence of alcohol", police added. 
Link: Man held for raping his minor daughter

Jan 31, 2013: Minor raped, accused in police custody

TNN | Jan 31, 2013, 04.03 AM IST

BHOPAL: A 13-year-old girl was allegedly raped for several days after her abduction. A youth allegedly kidnapped the victim from Nazeerabad area to Khandwadistrict.

Police registered a case after recovering the minor on Tuesday. The victim, a resident of village Badbelikala, was missing from her house since December 15.

Her family had also lodged a missing person report here. The girl was finally recovered from a village Toki in Khandwa.

Police said accused Sonu Balai was taken in custody. Sonu and the minor were known to each other. He has been booked under charges of rape and abduction, the police added.
Link: Minor raped, accused in police custody

Jan 31, 2013: New-born girl rescued near garbage dump

TNN | Jan 31, 2013, 06.16 AM IST

CHENNAI: A new-born girl was found abandoned near a garbage dump in Nerkundram near Maduravoyal on Wednesday morning. 

Morning walkers who heard the cries of baby wailing, found the new-born wrapped in a cloth near the dump yard that is close to a temple. After they called the Maduravoyal police, volunteers of Child Line, the government-run helpline for children, took the baby to Institute of Child Health in Egmore. 

The girl was given a wash and some formula food. Doctors attending on her said she appeared starved and needed monitoring for at least 48 hours. "We will have to see how she responds to medical intervention," said a duty doctor. There were no visible disabilities or diseases, but doctors said they were conducting some tests to ensure the girl was healthy. 

Police, who are hunting for the girl's parents, said the girl would be taken to an orphanage after discharge from the ICH. "She was lucky not to have been bitten by rodents or dogs. So far no one has come to us demanding the child. We suspect she was abandoned by her parents," a senior police officer said. 
Link: New-born girl rescued near garbage dump

Jan 30, 2013: Sex racket busted in Dehradun, 21 arrested

PTI | Jan 30, 2013, 09.41 PM IST

DEHRADUN: An alleged sex racket was busted in the city today with the arrest of 21 people, including nine women, police said. 

A raid was conducted at a house in Defence Colony following a tip-off and 21 people, including nine women involved in a sex racket were arrested from there, they said. 

The arrested persons belong to different places in Uttarakhand, including Dehradun, they said, adding they are being interrogated. 
Link: Sex racket busted in Dehradun, 21 arrested

Jan 31, 2013: Gujarat university bans skirts, shorts during fest

By Prashant Rupera, TNN | Jan 31, 2013, 04.05 AM IST

VADODARA: A young boy and a girl can't dance together on stage as a couple! A girl student cannot perform western dance wearing shorts, frock or skirt! These are the new set of rules introduced by MS University's largest faculty — Faculty of Commerce — for its annual youth festival 'Innovision 2013' that started on January 28.

On Tuesday, a girl student was asked to return from stage after she came wearing a short skirt for a solo dance. It was only after she wore jeans that she could participate.

The rules distributed along with forms states: proper clothing and dressing should be maintained during performances. In practice, this means that girl students shouldn't wear skimpy and short clothes.

Teachers coordinating the festival said the rules are made to avoid hooting, teasing and vulgarity from audience.

"It is not moral policing but we don't want any untoward incident," says dean Dr Jyoti Achanta. "During live shows, when the stage is very near, we have to ensure that there is decency," she says.

The faculty decided to stop couple dance after a boy and a girl became too cozy on stage and posed for a kissing scene last year, said Achanta.

MSU vice-chancellor professor Yogesh Singh, however, does not agree with such rules. "Such dresses are worn elsewhere too. I don't see any reason to introduce such rules," Singh told TOI.
Link: Gujarat university bans skirts, shorts during fest

Jan 31, 2013: We are harbouring a culture of rape: Spivak

TNN | Jan 31, 2013, 04.15 AM IST

KOLKATA: Eminent feminist and literary theorist Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak expressed her deep anguish at what she termed the "culture of rape" at the Kolkata Literary Meet on Wednesday. 

The brutal rape and death of Nirbhaya seems to have shaken Spivak. On Wednesday, she equated this with an essential erosion of ethics that has enveloped us and looked for long-term solutions to this evil in a thought-provoking discussion with scholar Chinmoy Guha. 

Spivak spoke at the Sunil Gangopadhyay memorial session, where she likened him to a world poet. After reading out a poem from 'Ami Kirokom Bhabe Beche Achi' by Gangopadhyay, she went on to explain how he constructed and de-constructed life and its philosophy, making the reader ponder deep about existence in its many facets. 

Taking off from this point, Spivak wove her argument and spoke about several wrongs against women and, as a result, against humanity. "Human rights are women's rights...," she repeated one of her most-acclaimed lines. 

"It was such a ghastly case of rape and torture. I found the reaction wanting. There was a sort of aloofness. I was reminded what one of Bengal's best known communists had once said: 'Such things happen'. There was a show of urban radical outrage, but that is certainly not enough to bring about the change that is needed," Spivac said. 

In characteristic fashion, Spivak struck at the roots of our existing value system. She donned the philosopher's hat and said there needed to be a paradigm shift, and that would be possible only through training the soul and mind through proper education. 

She went on to say that India is about to adopt a culture where Wal-mart would be a reality soon. "I cannot identify with this culture." Calling herself a pure Bengali who takes care to work at her Bengali, Spivak said she had noticed a complete disregard for the language among the community. "This picturises an erosion of ethics and we need to take better care," she said.
Link: We are harbouring a culture of rape: Spivak

Jan 30, 2013: Girl asked to strip at Easyday, complaint filed

TNN | Jan 30, 2013, 12.07 PM IST

INDORE: Outraged mother of 15-year-old girl, who was allegedly forced to strip by the security guard of a supermarket Easyday on Sunday evening, visited collector's office on Tuesday. She demanded serious action against the staff for the ignominy that her daughter suffered.

"How can you force someone to undress? Even though the security check was done by a female guard, the act cannot be justified. I do not want any excuse but a written apology apart from strict action against them," she said, adding the sensors were later discovered malfunctioning.

The mother of the victim said that ADM Rajneesh Kasera promised her that stringent charges would be slapped against the concerned including section 107 of IPC. We may also raise the issue at the public hearing this week and apprise IG office of the situation.

The victim had gone to the store for shopping with her mother and sister. On her way out, the alarm beeped and then she was taken to the changing room to perform the security check by a female guard. There, she was allegedly forced to strip and was even misbehaved.

A complaint was filed at the Vijay Nagar police station on Monday evening.

When contacted, spokesperson of Easyday said, "We deeply regret the inconvenience caused to our customer at our Indore store. We are investigating the case for appropriate action."
Link: Girl asked to strip at Easyday, complaint filed

Jan 31, 2013: Teen kills friend over love affair, cuts head off

TNN | Jan 31, 2013, 06.16 AM IST

CHENNAI: Two friends turned foes over a girl and one killed the other and severed his head at MKB Nagar on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, three youths who surrendered before a metropolitan magistrate court in connection with the murder, were sent to jail. 

Police found a severed head on a road in the neighbourhood around 10.30pm on Tuesday. More than two hours later, they retrieved a headless body from a playground 2km away. After investigations, police said the murder was a result of a love triangle that went awry. Praveen Kumar, a school dropout, Vinoth Kumar of S M Nagar and Kalaivanan, all aged 19, were childhood friends. They played football together at the Vyasarpadi railway goods shed playground where Praveen's body was found. Vinoth has been in love with a girl living in his locality for a few years. 

Praveen, too, was in love with the girl, a fact which the girl was not aware of. Coming to know of Praveen's love for the girl, Vinoth warned him and asked him to keep away from her. But Praveen would not budge. "That's when Vinoth decided to eliminate him," said a police officer. "He hatched a plan with Kalaivanan and another friend Ajith to kill Praveen." 

Vinoth and Kalaivanan picked up Praveen from his home for what they said would be a party. "Vinoth told Praveen that he would sacrifice his love for the sake of their friendship," said a police officer, based on Vinoth's confession. 

"They went to the playground and had a few drinks. Then Vinoth deliberately picked up a fight with him and took out a knife from his pocket. He stabbed him. Praveen ran, but they chased and caught him. They severed his head and abandoned it near S M Nagar." 

A few passersby who noticed the head alerted police. Praveen's mother was brought to identify the head, but she couldn't. Police, who recovered Vinoth's ID card from the playground, zeroed in on him after he and his friends went missing soon after the incident. 

"We came to know that the playground was their meeting point. We got the body and the ID card from there. The body had the name of Praveen's mother (Tulasi) tattooed on a hand," said additional deputy commissioner of police S Jeyakumar. 

Vinoth, Kalaivanan and Ajith have been remanded in judicial custody.

LINK: Teen kills friend over love affair, cuts head off

Jan 30, 2013: 12-year-old raped by teacher, senior at Jashpur

By Rashmi Drolia, TNN | Jan 30, 2013, 07.39 PM IST

JASHPUR: A 12-year-old minor girl was allegedly raped by a school teacher and her senior at Jashpur in Chhattisgarh on January 26. 

The case was registered on Tuesday under the jurisdiction of Bagicha police station after the girl reported the incident to her parents. The victim, belongs to Sukma village, which is located 35km from Bagicha. 

The incident took place when the minor girl, who is a student of class VI, was looking for her missing cattle and a school teacher in the same village dragged her to the nearby Sarukchar forest and raped her. 

According to the police, the girl was left there after being threatened for life, if she opened her mouth about the incident. After two hours, a senior boy of her school, who came to her rescue, took the girl to a nearby village called Jabula, about 12km away from Sukma. The boy identified as Punit Nageshia, a minor, repeatedly raped and assaulted her, keeping her in his captivity at a relative's place, for two days. 

The girl managed to flee from his place after two days on Monday and reported the incident to her family. The case was reported to the police by sarpanch after the girl's health deteriorated and she fell unconscious often. Bagicha police have registered a case against both the accused. 

Kirtan Rathore, sub-divisional officer (police) SDOP, Bagicha police station, said that they have arrested Punit but the teacher identified as Rajeshwar Yadav was still at large. Yadav is reportedly a teacher at Dewdhand Madhyamik Shala at Sukma. 

Condition of the girl is said to be stable after she underwent a primary health check-up. 
Link: 12-year-old raped by teacher, senior at Jashpur

Jan 29, 2013: 17-year-old girl gang-raped in Delhi

PTI | Jan 29, 2013, 05.52 PM IST

NEW DELHI: A 17-year-old housemaid was allegedly drugged and gang-raped by two drunken men at their rented accommodation in Jamia Nagar when she had gone there to meet her friend, police said on Tuesday. 

The girl, who works as a maid, went to the house to meet her friend, who is also a maid, on her invitation but was trapped, police said. 

In her complaint to police, the girl alleged that her friend asked her to join her in a party where two of her male friends would also be present. 

Once she went to her friend's place, they gave her tea which was allegedly laced with sedatives. She became unconscious after drinking the tea, police said. 

The girl also alleged that she was taken to another room by the two men and there she was raped. She approached the police later and the woman who lured her has been detained.
Link: 17-year-old girl gang-raped in Delhi

Jan 29, 2013: 4-year-old girl raped and killed in Haryana

By Bhaskar Mukherjee, TNN | Jan 29, 2013, 05.27 AM IST

SIRSA: Police arrested two people for allegedly kidnapping, gang-raping and killing a four-year-old girl in Sirsa district of Haryana. 

The police said the accused arrested on Sunday were drug addicts. They committed the crime on Saturday. 

A police officer investigating the incident said that the accused threw the girl in a sewage pond after raping her. The victim's body was recovered from the pond on Monday. 

The police on Saturday registered a case against accused, Vikas and Pawan, both daily wage labourers. 

The victim was kidnapped by them on Saturday afternoon while she was playing near her house. Another girl who was playing with her told the parents about the kidnapping. Her parents went to the police on Saturday evening after they had failed to find her and named the two accused. The accused were neighbors of the victim. 

"When we asked Pawan about the whereabouts of the girl he told us that how he and Vikas threw the girl in sewage pond water after raping her," a police officer said. 
Link: 4-year-old girl raped and killed in Haryana

Jan 29, 2013: SC commutes rapist-killer father's death

By Dhananjay Mahapatra, TNN | Jan 29, 2013, 03.26 AM IST

NEW DELHI: A man, released on parole after being arrested on wife's FIR accusing him of raping his minor daughter, came home and hacked to death his wife and daughter, but the Supreme Court on Monday found it not to be a "rarest of rare" crime and commuted his death penalty to imprisonment for entire life. 

To deviate from the concurrent view of the trial court and the Punjab & Haryana high court to award death penalty to Mohinder Singh, the apex court bench of Justices P Sathasivam and F M I Kalifulla found a "significant factor": the man did not harm his other daughter who was present in the house during the incident on January 8, 2006. 

It was probably more brutal than the Nirbhaya case. Singh was convicted for raping minor daughter and was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment. The wife, who had lodged the rape case against her husband, had driven him out of the house. After being released on parole in January 2005, he had once attacked the wife. 

But a year later, he came to his wife's house in a village near Ludhiana armed with a axe and hacked both her and the rape victim daughter in front of his other daughter. The prosecution narrated the sequence of events, recounting, "When the wife came to the lobby of the house, the accused hit her on the head with an axe. She fell on the ground and, thereafter, he gave two more blows on her neck and hand. Then, he attacked the daughter and gave three repeated blows on her head. Both of them died on the spot." 

The prosecution said, "When he approached towards the other daughter, she went into a room and bolted it from inside. The accused fled the scene leaving behind the axe at the spot. After some time, the surviving daughter came out of the room and raised a hue and cry." The accused was arrested on the same day. 

In converting the death penalty into imprisonment for entire life, the bench of Justices Sathasivam and Kalifulla said, " "One significant factor in this case, which we should not lose sight of is that he did not harm his other daughter even though he had a good chance for the same." 

Justice Sathasivam, writing the judgment for the bench, said, "It was highlighted that he being a poor man and unable to earn his livelihood since he was driven out of his house by his deceased wife. It is also his claim that if he was allowed to live in the house, he could easily meet both his ends and means, as the money which he was spending by paying rent would have been saved. It is his further grievance that his deceased wife was adamant and he should live outside and should not lead happy married life and that was the reason that their relations were strained." 

After taking note of Singh's plea, the apex court said, "This shows that the accused was feeling frustrated because of the attitude of his wife and children. Moreover, the probability of the offender's rehabilitation and reformation is not foreclosed in this case." 

The court also relied on an affidavit filed by Singh's sister reflecting that the family had not entirely renounced him and concluded, "Hence, there is a possibility for reformation in the present appellant. Keeping in mind all these materials, we do not think that the present case warrants the award of death penalty." 

"The appellant accused, therefore, instead of being awarded death penalty, is sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life, meaning thereby, the end of his life but subject to any remission granted by the appropriate government satisfying the conditions prescribed in law," the court added.
Link: SC commutes rapist-killer father's death

Jan 28, 2013: 13-year-old girl gang-raped, senior citizen among four booked

PTI | Jan 28, 2013, 05.26 PM IST
THANE (Maharashtra): A minor girl was allegedly gang-raped by two persons, including a 70-year-old man, at Kalyan in Thane district, police said. 

Besides the two alleged rapists, two women were also booked in this case as they threatened the victim of dire consequences if she told anybody about the incident, police said today. 

In the complaint filed with the police yesterday, the girl alleged that on December 28 last year, she was repeatedly raped by one Jaswant Bhai (70) and Nilesh More (18) at Rupa Karya's house, where she worked as a maid servant, police said. 

Karya and another woman named Preeti (35) threatened the girl of dire consequences if she revealed it to anyone, police said.

Police have booked the four accused under sections 376 (2)(G), 506, rw 34 of the IPC, sections 4 and 12 of the Protection of Child from Sexual Offences act of 2012 and also Juvenile Justice Act, section 23 and 26, police said. 

No arrests have been made in this connection so far and further investigation is on, police said.
Link: 13-year-old girl gang-raped, senior citizen among four booked

Jan 28, 2013: Class XII student raped by boyfriend

PTI | Jan 28, 2013, 06.52 PM IST

JALANDHAR: A youth allegedly raped his girlfriend after taking her out on the pretext of seeing a movie and forcing her to drink alcohol in a village near Jalandhar Cantonment area, police said today. 

The class XII student yesterday lodged a complaint against Harpreet Singh alias Happy that he and his two friends, on the pretext of showing her a movie, had taken her to a village near Cant area and raped her in a house on January 20. 

According to the complaint, when the victim resisted, she was beaten up and made to drink alcohol. Happy and his two friends raped her and threatened to kill her if she told anyone, the victim had stated in her complaint, police inspector Rajendra Sharma said. 

They then left her in front of her house in semi-conscious state. 

The case has been registered after a week of the incident, as the girl was reluctant to disclose what had happened with her, and only on repeated questioning by her parents, she told them about it yesterday, Sharma said. 

Singh has been arrested, and the girl has been sent to hospital for medical examination, the inspector said. 

The names of the two friends of Singh have not been added to the FIR at the moment, Sharma said. 

Investigation was on and only after it was proved that they too were involved in the rape, that an FIR would be lodged against them, he said.
Link: Class XII student raped by boyfriend

Jan 28, 2013: Man sets wife on fire for denying divorce

PTI | Jan 28, 2013, 05.10 PM IST

FARIDABAD: A man allegedly set his wife on fire after she refused to give him divorce in Mujeshar village in the district, police said here today. 

Meherchand poured kerosene on Malti and set her ablaze when she was alone at her mother's home, police said, adding, he then fled from the scene. 

On hearing her screams, neighbors came and doused the fire and rushed her to hospital with severe burns, they said. 

Police has lodged a case against Meherchand and started investigation.
Link: Man sets wife on fire for denying divorce

Jan 27, 2013: 17-year-old girl student raped by school peon

PTI | Jan 27, 2013, 06.54 PM IST

RAIPUR: A 17-year-old girl student of a government school was allegedly raped by a peon at her home in Kondagaon district of Chhattisgarh, police said today. 

"Tikeshwar Mandavi (20), the peon, has been taken into custody for allegedly raping the minor student at her home yesterday in Arandi village under Keshkal police station area of the district," they said. 

According to police, the incident occurred last night when the victim was alone at home. "The accused reportedly entered her house and sexually assaulted her," they said. 

Mandavi was arrested on complaint of the girl's relatives, police said, adding that further probe was on.
Link: 17-year-old girl student raped by school peon

Jan 27, 2013: Raped by brother, dalit woman delivers baby boy

PTI | Jan 27, 2013, 06.48 PM IST

JAMNAGAR: A 25-year-old Dalit woman, allegedly raped by her brother last year, today gave birth to a baby boy at a local hospital, police said. 

"The woman hailing from Matva village today delivered the baby boy at G G Hospital," they said adding, a complaint in this regard had been lodged at Panchkosi-A police station. 

The accused, identified as Kishor Valsethiya (32), has been absconding since he raped his sister around nine months back, police said.
Link: Raped by brother, dalit woman delivers baby boy

Jan 27, 2013: Two men held on charges of molestation

Press Trust of India | Updated: January 27, 2013 21:57 IST

Kolkata: Two men were arrested on Sunday for allegedly molesting two women in Kasba area of the city, police said.

"As I, along with one of my friends, was walking down the road, two youths surfaced all of a sudden and started molesting us," one of the harassed ladies said.

"As we screamed, a police van, which was passing by, came to our rescue and arrested both the culprits," she said.

Police said the two were rounded up and taken to the nearby police station.

Three separate cases of molestation of women were reported in the city during the past fortnight.
Link: Two men held on charges of molestation

Jan 27, 2013: Woman in Rajasthan allegedly sold 11-year-old daughter for Rs 6 lakh

Edited by Shamik Ghosh | Updated: January 27, 2013 09:23 IST

Tonk: A woman from Tonk in Rajasthan allegedly sold her 11-year-old daughter for Rs. 6 lakh to a couple, who wanted to traffic her for prostitution. The child, however, managed to escape and went to the police for help.

The police have now found the document in which the woman agreed to hand over her daughter for Rs. 6 lakhs.

"We recovered papers from the girl and it's clearly written that the mother has sold her daughter to Santra and Tarachand in Kanjar basti for Rs. 6 and a half lakh. She took Rs. 2 lakh from them on the December 16 and Rs. 4 lakh was to be given over the period of the next two months," said Rakesh Verma , Assistant Sub-Inspector  of the Anti-Human Trafficking cell.
The child is currently at a nari niketan shelter.

The girl's mother, Rajrani, and the couple, who bought her, have been arrested by the anti-human trafficking cell and are in police custody.

Rajrani, a widow, claims she was being pressurised by her community panchayat to pay fines and to collect money she had 'mortgaged' her daughter.

"No, I did not sell her. I took Rs. 2 lakh from him but I gave it back," she claims.
Link: Woman in Rajasthan allegedly sold 11-year-old daughter for Rs 6 lakh