Nagpur: NGO files 10-year-old’s rape complaint after parents refuse due to fear, stigma

NAGPUR: Activists ensured 48-year-old Ravi Tumdam was behind bars after parents of the 10-year-old girl whom he exploited fled their home and refused to lodge a complaint. The Standard III student was being lured by Tumdam, a neighbour, with Rs 10-20 or even a chocolate.
An offence of rape and unnatural sex was registered at Kapil Nagar police station in north Nagpur amid much drama after parents of a minor rape survivor refused to approach the police.
The girl’s parents even fled the house in order to avoid the legal hassles after learning their daughter was being abused for three months. Kapil Nagar police were also reluctant in the beginning as the parents were uninterested. This was despite the activists having recorded the statement of the survivor and presented it before the police.
This led to two more days of delay in launching the legal action before FIR was finally lodged on June 2. Tumdam was arrested subsequently.
Chhaya Gurav, representing Indian Centre for Integrated Development (ICID) which works for Childline, became the complainant in the case with parents choosing to remain away citing threat and social stigma.
On May 27, Childline activist Ankita Gadpayale had visited the home of the survivor after being alerted through an anonymous call on 1098 which is meant for rescuing or helping children in distress.
Gadpayale was told by the girl about her plight during preliminary inquiry by her. She said Tumdam would lure her everyday after returning from school at 2 pm when her parents would be away to earn livelihood and elder brother would not be in the vicinity. He used to threaten her with strong words stating the family would face consequences if she revealed anything.
As the NGO workers started building pressure on police and family, they were supported by the district women and child development department and child protection officer Mushtak Pathan.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)