Visakhapatnam, India – The Gopalapatnam police have arrested four individuals in connection with the alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl. Additionally, three more individuals, including a 25-year-old married woman, have been arrested for their alleged involvement in supporting the crime. All seven suspects range in age from 20 to 29 years.
The incident took place on May 23 but came to light when the girl filed a complaint with the local police late Thursday night. Subsequent arrests were made on Friday. The police have registered cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against the accused.
According to the police, on the afternoon of May 22, the minor girl left her home for unspecified reasons. She was reportedly approached by some young men at NAD Junction, who allegedly took her to a location and sexually assaulted her. Later, three other individuals allegedly raped her at different places between 1 a.m. and 4 p.m. on May 23. The girl managed to return home on the same day and lodged a complaint with the local police on the night of May 25. Following the registration of the case, the police apprehended seven individuals in relation to the incident.
The police have invoked the POCSO Act, which specifically deals with crimes against children, as well as the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. In the early hours of May 23, the girl’s parents had reported her missing, prompting an investigation by the authorities.
A senior police officer stated that further investigations are ongoing in the case.