Minor girl raped, forced to take abortion pills; accused held after encounter

Varanasi: A man accused of repeatedly raping and impregnating a 12-year-old girl and forcing her to take abortion pills was shot in the leg and arrested after an encounter with Karanda police in Ghazipur early Monday.CO (Sadar) Shekhar Sengar said a case was registered on Sunday after the girl became pregnant and was allegedly given medication for an abortion. Police teams raided hideouts and, acting on a tip-off, cornered Mohd Tasleem (22) near Mainpur Taal as he tried to flee.The CO said Tasleem opened fire and tried to escape when he saw the police cordon, but was shot in the leg in retaliatory firing and apprehended. Police seized a country-made pistol, cartridges, and a motorcycle from the spot, and then took him to the hospital.During initial questioning, he allegedly confessed to raping the minor and forcing her to take abortion medication after learning she was pregnant.