Tribal Girl, 13, Forced into Marriage, Raped in Maharashtra

Palghar, Oct 17 (PTI) — A distressing incident has emerged from Maharashtra's Palghar district, where a 13-year-old tribal girl was allegedly forced into marriage and subjected to rape. The police, on Friday, disclosed details of the harrowing case.

Following a complaint filed by the young survivor, authorities have launched a legal case against five individuals, comprising the groom and his family members from Ahilyanagar, as per an official statement.

The girl's grandfather is accused of orchestrating her marriage to a man from Ahilyanagar in September, during which she was reportedly subjected to repeated sexual assaults. Additionally, the groom's family is said to have inflicted psychological harassment against her.

"We have filed charges against five people, including a family member, concerning the forced marriage, trafficking, and repeated sexual abuse of a minor. This case spans several jurisdictions, and we are actively collaborating on the investigation to guarantee swift justice for the victim," stated an official source.

The charges have been filed under several pertinent legal statutes, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.