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The Madhya Pradesh Police are currently verifying the age of a 17-year-old boy, accused of brutally raping a five-year-old girl in Shivpuri district even as the survivor continues to remain under observation after surgery at a Gwalior hospital, officers said.
The accused’s official age is currently 17 years and 10 months, which the police are trying to confirm through more documents and scientific examinations. The police can build a stronger case if he is above 18, Amit Kumar Chaturvedi, Dinara police station in-charge, told The Hindu.
According to the police, the accused teenager and the girl are neighbours. He had lured the minor girl when she was watching a wedding ceremony near her home in Shivpuri district’s Awasdera village on February 22 evening. The accused who was in an inebriated condition allegedly raped the girl and also physically assaulted her, including smashing her head against a wall. She was found by her family in an unconscious condition and with multiple injuries.
Mr. Chaturvedi said the accused was arrested on February 23 and is currently at a juvenile home. A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and POCSO Act.
“Forensic teams from Shivpuri and Gwalior have also collected samples from the spot for investigation. We are arranging records from the hospital where he was born, and his Class 1 marksheet and other documents to verify his age,” Mr. Chaturvedi said, adding that the girl was “recovering now and able to speak now”.
Dr. R.K.S. Dhakad, dean of the government medical college in Gwalior where the girl is admitted, said she underwent a surgery on Friday and was in a “stable condition”. “The girl came to us with many grave injuries and tears. We immediately attended to her and operated on her. We can say that she is out of danger for now but doctors are constantly monitoring her,” Dr. Dhakad told The Hindu.
BJP govt. insensitive: Cong.
Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari said such incidents were now happening “every day” in the State. “Half of them are not even registered,” he said, alleging that nearly 18 girls aged between one and 10 were being raped in the State every day. Mr. Patwari also accused the BJP government of being “insensitive” towards women’s safety.
Earlier, Union Minister and Shivpuri MP Jyotiraditya Scindia promised “strict action” against the accused to prevent such incidents in future. “There is no place for such crimes in our region and State. I took immediate cognisance of the incident and spoke to the district administration and Shivpuri Superintendent of Police and directed them to take strict action against such dreaded criminals so that such incidents do not recur in future. The safety of women and daughters is the first priority of our government. The culprits will not be spared and the daughter and her family will definitely get justice,” Mr. Scindia said in an X post on February 25.
Mr. Chaturvedi said the girl’s family was involved in agriculture while the accused and his mother work as labourers.
Published – March 01, 2025 01:48 am IST
