Lucknow: In a distressing incident, a 13-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly gang-raped by three individuals in a moving vehicle in the Mathura area of Uttar Pradesh. The local police are currently investigating the case, which has raised significant concerns about the safety of women and young girls in the region.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the police reported that the young victim was forcibly given a spiked drink, abducted in a van, and taken to a secluded area where the alleged assault occurred. Following the incident, the suspects abandoned the girl under a flyover and fled the scene. The victim was later admitted to a private hospital by her family, where medical examination confirmed the assault.

Following the incident, the victim’s father lodged a complaint with the police, leading to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against the alleged perpetrators. The FIR includes charges of kidnapping, gang rape of a minor, and violations under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. “We’ve filed charges including kidnapping, gang rape of a minor, and sections of the POCSO Act,” a police spokesperson stated. Authorities are currently conducting a search for the three accused individuals.

This incident follows another recent case in Kolkata, where a medical trainee was reportedly raped and murdered at R.G. Kar Hospital, further highlighting the ongoing issue of sexual violence against women in India. Activists and women’s rights groups have voiced their concerns and are urging for stronger enforcement of laws and societal reforms to combat such heinous crimes.