Is Chhattisgarh Facing a Crisis in Child Safety?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Incident highlights child safety crisis
- Suspect arrested under serious charges
- Recent cases reflect disturbing trends
- NCRB data shows alarming rates of violence
- Community action is critical for change
Raipur, May 4 (NationPress) A man has been taken into custody after allegedly raping a five-year-old girl in the Bhatgaon police station region of Chhattisgarh's Surajpur district.
The suspect, identified as Ramkumar, was apprehended by the Chhattisgarh Police on Saturday night in a forest area near the Udaypur police station in Sarguja district, as per the investigation officer's report to IANS.
According to the officer, the 35-year-old suspect had been employed as a servant in the victim's home for the past two years.
On May 2, he enticed the young girl into another room under the guise of playing and committed the heinous act.
When the girl was discovered sobbing uncontrollably, her mother questioned her and learned about the horrifying incident.
The victim's family promptly filed a report at the Bhatgaon police station.
Following the complaint, the police registered an FIR and uncovered that the suspect had taken the girl to a different room in the house, committed the crime, and then fled,” stated the police officer.
Ramkumar now faces serious charges under Section 4 of the POCSO Act and Section 65 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), according to the officer.
Recently, a six-year-old girl was also sexually assaulted in the Durg district by her uncle, who inflicted severe harm before murdering her.
In another alarming case last month, a 13-year-old boy was charged with sexually assaulting a three-year-old neighbor while she was outside. She was later found in distress, prompting her mother and neighbors to notify the police, leading to the suspect's arrest.
Statistics from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reveal a disturbing trend in Chhattisgarh, where sexual violence against minors is alarmingly high.
Many offenders are often relatives or acquaintances of the victims. Raipur, along with other districts, has been highlighted as particularly unsafe for young girls, according to NCRB reports.