A 15-year-old girl in Chattisgarh was allegedly gang-raped twice by five people seven months ago, police said on Friday.
The girl was reportedly raped at a hotel in Chirmiri town and later again sexually assaulted at a house in Bilaspur district (Representative Image)
At least three people have been arrested and a search is on for the remaining, they added.
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While some police officials claimed that one of the arrested persons is a local Congress leader, the party has denied having any links with him.
The minor, a resident of Manendragarh district, was reportedly raped at a hotel in Chirmiri town and later again sexually assaulted at a house in Bilaspur district, police said.
Two cases under the Indian Penal Code and POCSO Act were registered on Thursday on the basis of the survivor’s complaint, they added.
It wasn’t immediately clear why the girl approached the police after seven months.
“The girl was working as a domestic help in Chirmiri. She said that around seven months ago, she was drugged by a woman, Priti Pandey, and subsequently raped by two people – Nikka and Raja,” Manendragrah additional superintendent of police (ASP) Nimesh Bariaya said.
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“A few days later, the minor was again lured by the same woman and they went to Bilaspur where she was raped by three people, including one Shahnawaz Ali,” he added.
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“A few days later, the minor was again lured by the same woman and they went to Bilaspur where she was raped by three people, including one Shahnawaz Ali,” he added.
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Police officials familiar with the matter claimed Ali is a Congress leader in Nagpur town, under Manendragarh district.
Akash Sharma, state president of Youth Congress, dismissed the claim. “Ali is not associated with the Congress,” he said.
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting.
His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.
