13-yr-old raped by uncle’s friend; aunt held for abetment

Nagpur: A 13-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her maternal uncle’s (Mama) friend for around three months with the help of (Mami) uncle’s wife between December last year and March 10 this year. A case of rape has been registered against Dilip Rathod and Puja, 25, who allegedly encouraged the accused to have sexual relations with the survivor.
Ajni police arrested the accused under Section 37 (I) (N), 34 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act. Cops on Tuesday produced the accused before court that remanded Rathod to police custody till March 23, while Puja was sent to judicial custody.

According to police, survivor’s mother had died several years back while her father had left her when a child. Since then was living with her maternal grandparents’ house. Rathod was friend of survivor’s maternal uncle and used to regularly visit their house. A few months back he had proposed to the survivor but she refused. However, she had confided in Puja about it.

Puja then allegedly encouraged the accused to have a relationship with the survivor. It is learnt Puja had promised to give survivor abortion drugs if got pregnant. However, another of survivor’s aunts recently came to visit her. The survivor narrated her plight to her aunt who got her to file a police complaint. Ajni police then arrested both the accused.