Child Victim of Rape in Madhya Pradesh Forced by Authorities to Return to Assaulter's Residence, Re-Victimized

In a shocking turn of events, a 15-year-old girl from a village in Panna district was rescued on February 17, 2025, following an alleged sexual assault and kidnapping. The case, which has been registered under various sections of the BNS and Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act, has sent ripples through the district.

The ordeal began on January 16, 2025, when the girl went missing after leaving for school. Her family filed a missing report in the local police station, but it wasn't until her misery was highlighted by the local media that the Chhatarpur police started investigating.

The case was later shifted from the Pann Kotwali police station in Panna district to Jujhar Nagar police station in Chhatarpur district. The investigation revealed a disturbing chain of events. The survivor was initially sheltered at the One Stop Center (OSC) in Panna, but allegedly, she was sent to the home of the accused's sister-in-law, bypassing mandatory provisions, according to the preliminary police investigation.

The survivor was later rescued from Gurugram, Haryana. The accused, who has been arrested, allegedly raped the survivor again when he was out on bail, according to the police. The survivor revealed the alleged sexual assault during her counselling in the OSC, as per the police.

A case has been registered against ten people, including the chairman of the local Child Welfare Committee (CWC), its members, and senior officials, in a police station in Chhatarpur. The accused persons, including a government official and local individuals, are being investigated for abusing power and violating the BNS and POCSO laws related to child protection and sexual offenses.

The survivor's family requested the Panna district collector in a public grievance hearing to restore the girl to them. Following intervention by the Panna district collector, the survivor was sent to the OSC.

This incident has sparked outrage and calls for accountability. The local CWC, which is supposed to protect and care for children in distress, has been accused of failing in its duty. The police are continuing their investigation, and the accused is currently in custody. The community hopes that justice will be served, and such incidents will never happen again.

Child Victim of Rape in Madhya Pradesh Forced by Authorities to Return to Assaulter's Residence, Re-Victimized