Madurai: 13-year-old HIV+ rape survivor’s foetus aborted

MADURAI: The foetus of an HIV positive 13-year-old girl from Madurai who was repeatedly raped and impregnated by her 50-year-old stepfather was aborted and the teenager rehabilitated at a child care institution on Friday on the directions of the district child welfare committee (CWC) .
The man was arrested by T Kallupatti police on Tuesday for the crime.The girl, a class IV dropout, was found to be in her 16th to 18th week of pregnancy and was admitted to Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH). Tests had also revealed that the survivor, her mother and the accused were HIV positive. However, the survivor’s 17-year-old sister had not tested HIV positive.
“On Wednesday, the foetus was aborted and the girl, after full recovery, discharged on Friday. The CWC provided counselling and is ensuring rehabilitation of the victim, her 17-year-old sister and the mother,” said B Pandiaraja, member, CWC. On the directions of the CWC, the rape survivor was admitted to a child care institution where she will continue treatment for HIV infection. The survivor’s mother meanwhile was directed to be rehabilitated at an old age home for continuing her treatment for HIV infection, and considering her personal safety.
“Considering the stigma around AIDS and possible concerns to their safety from people in their native village, we counselled them to be rehabilitated in the institutions. The 13-year-old survivor would also be given a chance to return to school from the next academic year,” said Pandiaraja.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)