A harrowing case of child sexual abuse has come to light in Bengaluru, after a minor girl who was allegedly raped by her neighbour, gave birth to a baby boy last Sunday.
On the afternoon of 21 July, the girl began screaming and complained of severe stomach pain. Her parents soon rushed her to a private hospital nearby and the doctors there confirmed that she was in labour.
“We did not know that she was pregnant. We just assumed she was putting on weight because she is so young. We were all confused about what was happening. When she was in labour, I kept asking my other daughter whether she knew anything about this and she too said she did not know anything,” the girl’s mother told TNM.
The minor girl gave birth to a baby boy on 21 July after which her parents questioned her about the incident. “My daughter said she did not know she was pregnant until the doctors said so,” her mother said.
Upon recuperating, the girl narrated a harrowing tale of rape, allegedly perpetrated by her 20-year-old neighbour.
One afternoon in December 2018, 20-year-old Bhima Shankar, a mason by profession, allegedly visited the minor girl’s home on the pretext of procuring something from the minor girl’s older sister.
When the girl informed him that the sister had stepped out to finish up a few chores and buy groceries, Bhima Shankar allegedly told the girl that he would wait for her return.
“When she closed the door, he attacked her and dragged her into the bedroom and raped her. According to the complaint, she tried to scream but he smothered her mouth with his hand. He later threatened to ruin her reputation and kill her if she spoke about the incident to anyone,” the police said.
Bhima Shankar allegedly kept threatening her for over a year. However, the details of the incident came to light only after she went into labour and the girl’s parents filed a complaint with the Byappanahalli Police.
An FIR was registered on July 21 under sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC and also under the POCSO Act. Bhima Shankar had absconded upon hearing about the girl’s pregnancy. He was arrested by the Byappanahalli Police on Friday and later remanded to judicial custody.
(The story is published in an arrangement with The News Minute)
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