A 14-year-old girl reportedly become pregnant after being allegedly raped by her neighbor at Moijing village in Manipur’s Thoubal district. This incident has ignited strong feelings of outrage within the community, leading to protests outside the Thoubal district court and in Moijing village.
According to Manipur police, the accused individual, Md Suleiman (35), a vendor of cosmetic products, was taken into custody on October 16 from his residence in Moijing village. Subsequently, he was presented before the Special Court dealing with cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on Monday and is now in judicial custody, pending further investigation.
According to Babul Ahamed, a cousin of the victim, the accused enticed the young girl with cosmetic items and allegedly raped her at his place. The heinous act only came to light three months later when the girl began displaying signs of pregnancy. After thorough questioning by her family members, the girl disclosed the details of the assault, leading to the filing of a police complaint and the subsequent arrest of the alleged perpetrator.
The incident has evoked a strong wave of anger and dissent in the region. Demonstrators have congregated outside the Thoubal district court, vociferously demanding justice for the victim.
Additionally, a peaceful sit-in protest was organized in Moijing village to express solidarity with the victim and her family.
At present, the case is under active investigation, and the accused individual is anticipated to face legal charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
