Hyderabad: The police has botched up the investigation into Monday’s rescue of a minor girl from a brothel here. The police should have registered a rape case under protection of children from sexual offences (POSCO) Act 2012 and also under laws of child trafficking against the customers. Cops should also have identified all those who had abused the girl as law states that anyone who abuses a minor should be booked.
The 15-year-old girl was rescued from a couple who had forced her into prostitution in the last three months. The girl was being exploited by several people. Under the law, the luring of a girl below 18 by offering money, goodies or threat amounts to rape. And, it’s binding on the police to identify and arrest all those who have sexually exploited her. In the present instance, the cops registered a case and arrested the couple who forced her into prostitution, but failed to add Sections of 376 (rape) of IPC against the customers. This is even though the police had evidence of communication between the customers and brokers who exploited the girl.
Achut Rao of Balala Hakkula Sangam said, “The police should realise the sensitivity of cases related to minors and initiate proper investigation.” “All the customers should have been booked on the charges of rape and POSCO,” said activist Sunita Krishnan.
