3-Year-Old Girl Allegedly Raped By Stepfather At Home, Accused Arrested

A 30-year-old man in India was arrested Wednesday for allegedly raping his 3-year-old stepdaughter inside their home.

The incident took place on July 3 in the state of Chhattisgarh. According to the police, a complaint was filed against the accused by his wife after the victim told her about the sexual assault. The child underwent a medical examination, following which the accused was arrested and charged.

The superintendent of police, Ajay Yadav, said after the complaint was filed, a search was launched Wednesday for the accused who was absconding, the Hindustan Times reported. He was later arrested and booked under Indian Penal Code sections 376 (rape), 376(2)(F) (being a relative, guardian or teacher of, or a person in a position of trust or authority towards the woman, commits rape on such woman) and 376AB (rape on woman under twelve year of age), 342 (wrongful confinement), and under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

An investigation was underway into the incident. Police official Sonal Gwala told NDTV the girl's health was normal.

It remains unclear if the mother of the child was in the house when her daughter was raped. The identities of the victim and the accused have not been made public.

In 2019, the National Crime Records Bureau disclosed that the accused were known to the victims in 93.1% of cases reported in India in 2017. The country registered as many as 32,559 rapes in the year. As many as 16,591 rape cases filed that year were against “family friends,” neighbors or other known persons. Despite strict laws in the country, crimes against women are on the rise, with several rape cases being reported each day.

Last month, a 4-year-old girl was allegedly raped and killed by her distant relative. The incident, which took place in the state of Bihar, sparked protests, with people demanding the death penalty for the accused. "As locals thrashed the accused, he is undergoing treatment at a hospital. He will be sent to jail after being discharged from the hospital. Trial in the case will within one week," senior police officer Rajkumar Shah told local media at the time. The child went missing, following which her family launched a search. Her body was later found on the rail track.