Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau.
A shocking incident in Sarkada village of Sitarganj in district Udham Singh Nagar, has taken a turn as an attempted rape case involving a four-year-old girl, allegedly sexually assaulted by three minors aged eight, ten and eleven, has now been upgraded to rape. This development comes after a medical report confirmed the rape with the girl. Following a complaint by the girl’s mother, the police initially registered a case against the accused minors on Monday night.
According to the complaint filed by the victim’s mother at the local police station, the incident occurred on Monday morning when her four-year-old daughter went to a primary school in the village. The child’s name is not officially registered at the school due to her young age, but she would often attend classes. After two to three hours, the girl returned home crying and reported being beaten by three boys, mentioning their names. She also indicated pain in her private parts through gestures.
The mother, initially unaware of the severity of the situation, noticed her daughter complaining of pain again in the evening. It was then realized that the girl had been sexually assaulted. She immediately took her daughter to the local hospital for a medical examination, and the incident was reported to the police.
Sitarganj Station House Officer (SHO) Bhupendra Singh Brijwal said that a case of attempted rape had been registered against the three minor boys. “Based on the mother’s complaint, we have filed a case under relevant sections for attempted rape against the three accused minors,” said SHO Brijwal.
The police responded to the situation, given the sensitive nature of the case. By late evening, officers from nearby police stations had reached Sitarganj, and three Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) vehicles were also deployed to maintain law and order. Heavy police deployment was arranged at key intersections, the hospital premises, and the police station to prevent any potential escalation.
The police became more vigilant when it was discovered that one of the accused belonged to a different community. This prompted the intelligence department and the district police administration to take additional precautions. “We immediately informed higher officials and took necessary steps to ensure peace and order in the area,” an official added. Subsequently, the three minors were taken into custody by a Child Welfare Police Officer.
Meanwhile, SSP Udham Singh Nagar, Manjunath TC, said, “According to the law, any non-consensual penetration of a sexual nature should be included in the definition of rape. The medical report performed by the gynaecologist at the Sitarganj hospital, says that the girl’s private part was penetrated. The case has now been registered as rape and since its done by minors it has been taken as deviance of law. They are booked under Section 70(2) (gangrape) of the BNS and section 6 (commiting gang penetrative sexual assault on a child) of the POCSO Act. The three minors are in protective custody, and investigations are underway following proper procedures.” He added that the Child Welfare Committee has been informed of the incident and the girl’s statements have been recorded by the concerned magistrate and the minors were presented before the juvenile court on Tuesday
Following the incident, experts emphasize the need for kids and youth education and awareness. Psychologist Dr Yuvraj Pant said, “Adolescents often turn to pornographic sites to satisfy their curiosity, and drug use can block inhibitory systems which impair their ability to think clearly, leading to such crimes.” Similarly, psychiatrist Dr Ish Dalla from district hospital said, “Uncontrolled excitement in youth can result in actions that shame humanity. It is crucial for the government to initiate comprehensive sex education campaigns.”
