12-year-old Tamil Nadu boy held for rape after girl, 17, delivers baby:
THANJAVUR: The Thanjavur all-women police force has arrested a 12-year-old boy under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 on charges of raping and impregnating a 17-year-old girl who has since delivered a baby.
Though the boy has been arrested based on the victim’s statement, police are checking whether any other person is involved.
According to the police, both of them are school dropouts and live in the same neighbourhood.
The girl’s parents admitted her to Raja Mirasudar government hospital on April 16 after she developed a stomach pain.
When doctors examined Hern they realised she was nine months pregnant. She gave birth to a girl child the same day.
On being informed by the hospital, the all-women police held an inquiry session with the girl. As she pointed at the boy, police booked him under Pocso Act Section 5 (1) and 5 (j) (ii) read with Sec 6 and arrested him. He has been sent to a juvenile home in Thanjavur.
Police inspector Ravimathi told TOI that the girl and her parents feigned ignorance of her pregnancy till she delivered a baby.
“We have decided to ascertain the boy’s age using scientific methods and a DNA test,” she added.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)