Raped by uncle, 14-year-old girl gives birth to stillborn child

BAREILLY

: In a shocking incident, a 14-year-old girl was admitted to the district hospital in

Sambhal

in severe labour pain on Wednesday. According to her family, they came to know about the fact that their child was pregnant only after she was brought to the medical facility, where she told them that she was raped by her uncle around nine months ago in an agriculture field when she was out to collect cattle fodder. Meanwhile, police have lodged an FIR against the accused, Ratan Singh, 23, under sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

Gynecologist Ranjana Singh told TOI, “The girl gave birth to a stillborn child around 7.30 pm. Her condition is also critical.” She added that the girl was crying with labour pain when she was admitted to the hospital in the afternoon. “We immediately took her to the intensive care unit and shifted her to the labour room around 7 pm.”

The girl’s father has approached the police and filed a complaint against his cousin who had allegedly raped her. Gunnaur police station house officer Vinay Kumar said, “As the complainant didn’t provide any documentary evidence in support of his girl’s age, we didn’t add sections of POCSO Act. If it is established that she is a minor, additional sections will be added to the FIR.”

Meanwhile, speaking to TOI, the rape survivor’s father said, “I have three kids and she is my eldest daughter. My wife has been suffering from mental illness for several years. I work in fields and my eldest daughter looks after her both siblings and ailing mother. Today, when she complained of pain, we took her to the hospital, where we were told about her pregnancy. She told me that my cousin had raped her and threatened to kill me and my family if she complained to anyone.”

On being asked whether it is possible that girl’s family was indeed clueless about her pregnancy, Dr Singh said, “It is very difficult to hide once the eighth month starts. Ignorance can be the only reason that her father would have not noticed her daughter. As far as the matter of girl’s age is concerned, she looks to be a minor. However, the chief medical officer is the only authority to determine her age.”