Chandigarh: Man arrested for raping and impregnating his 13-year-old niece

Police arrested a 26-year-old man on Monday for repeatedly raping and impregnating his 13-year-old niece.

The child lives with her mother and younger brother in her maternal grandparents’ house. She told police the first sexual assault occurred in April when she was home alone.

She said her mother’s brother frequently came to the house and pressured her to comply with his demands. He threatened her with dire consequences and forced her to perform inappropriate acts against her will. Fearing for her life, she remained silent and endured the abuse on several occasions.

The matter came to light when the minor developed severe abdominal pain and sought medical attention. It turned out that she was pregnant. Doctors at a government hospital attended to her and informed her parents of the discovery. The police were alerted and the child’s statement was recorded in the presence of the mother.

On Sunday, the police filed a complaint against the accused under Sections 376 (3) and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and arrested him on Monday.