A 15-year-old orphan girl was allegedly raped by her neighbor in Jharkhand’s Palamu district, according to an India News report. The incident occurred on Saturday night, but it was only reported to the police on Monday after villagers found out about it. The victim was asleep with her brother and sister when the 30-year-old man entered their house, dragged her into another room, and raped her, the report said.
The suspect, who is a father of two children, has been on the run since then, according to the in-charge of Chhatarpur women’s police station said. He had threatened the victim with dire consequences if she reported the assault. The girl was examined at the sub-divisional hospital, and then she was taken to the Medininagar Medical College and Hospital for further tests.
The village head said that the victim and her siblings lost their parents a year ago, and the state provides them with all government benefits given to orphan children. In addition, the victim works with a women’s self-help group in the village.
A case has been filed based on the victim’s testimony. The incident highlights the prevalence of violence against women and children in India, with many such cases often going unreported due to the threat of retaliation from perpetrators or a lack of trust in the justice system.
