Rapes 15-year-old Girl Repeatedly Over Eight Months: 26 Indian Men Arrested, Seven Still Wanted

JAKARTA - Indian police have arrested dozens of men accused of raping a 15-year-old girl repeatedly, over months.

Police in India arrested 26 men on Thursday in connection with the alleged gang rape of a 15-year-old girl, which occurred repeatedly over nearly eight months.

"The victim was first raped on January 29 this year," said Dinkar Munke, a junior Mandape police officer in the town of Dombivli, which is neighboring Mumbai in Maharashtra state, citing CNN Sept. 24.

"The rape was recorded, with the video then used to blackmail her repeatedly over the next eight months," Munke continued.

Unfortunately, the victim was allegedly raped by 33 perpetrators, including two teenagers, with the abuse continuing this week.

When her family, who so far don't know what happened, found out, they took the victim to the police station on Wednesday and filed a complaint, Munke said.

Police arrested the 26 men under India's penal code, as well as separately under the Child Protection from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO), which carries heavier sentences with longer prison terms.

In addition, Dombivli police are known to be still looking for the remaining seven people who are also suspects.

The incident is the latest in a string of rape and controversy cases, frightening India and once again highlighting its persistent problem with sexual violence.

Two weeks ago, a woman suspected of being raped in Mumbai died of her injuries, after she was found lying unconscious in an open minibus.

Activists say the case bears striking similarities to the brutal 2012 rape and murder of a student that sparked mass protests across the country.

Meanwhile, last month, a 9-year-old girl was gang-raped and murdered in the capital New Delhi. Four men, including a Hindu priest, have been charged with involvement in his death.

Since the 2012 protests, when millions of women called for stronger laws and protections for women, the government has introduced new laws and tougher penalties. But activists say the problem persists, driven by difficulties in reporting, poor enforcement by authorities, entrenched gender inequality and caste discrimination.

Reported rapes have increased over the years, potentially due to greater awareness around the issue. More than 32,000 were recorded in 2019, up from 25,000 in 2012. But many rapes go unreported, meaning the true number may be much higher.

A recent series of rapes in Mumbai has prompted the police to announce a new measure. Police set up women's security units at every police station in the city, and deployed patrol vehicles at hotspots for crimes against women, police announced on Sept. 14.

Other measures will include establishing lists of sexual offenders dating back five years, and requiring officers to undergo training in dealing with victims of sexual assault, complete with examinations before they join the Indian police force.