An 11-year-old girl from Nawabganj gave birth to a premature baby after being repeatedly raped by a married man, who allegedly blackmailed her into silence. The infant, delivered seven months into the pregnancy, died shortly after birth.
The accused, 31-year-old Rashid (a father of two), was arrested on Saturday after the girl’s family filed a police complaint. According to the survivor’s brother, Rashid lured the child to his home months ago by offering her fruit, then raped and threatened to kill her family if she spoke out. He also recorded a video to blackmail her into continued abuse.
The crime came to light when the girl complained of stomach pain. An ultrasound at a government hospital revealed her pregnancy. She was rushed to the District Women’s Hospital, where she delivered the baby the same day.
“Her condition was critical due to blood loss and trauma, but she is now stable,” said Dr. Tribhuvan Prasad, CMS of the hospital. Police have collected DNA samples from the infant for forensic matching with the accused.
An FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the POCSO Act and the Indian Penal Code. The case has sparked outrage and renewed calls for stricter protection of minors and faster legal action in child sexual abuse cases.
(Identity of the minor protected as per legal mandates)
