GURGAON, India — A 17‑year‑old girl from a village in Nuh district was gang‑raped on Friday night, police said, after three men from her own community lured her into fields on the outskirts of the settlement.
The incident was reported in a first‑information report (FIR) lodged at Sadar Tauru police station on Saturday. According to the FIR, the accused – identified as Waseem, Afroz and a second individual also named Waseem – had been in contact with the victim for several months, pressuring her to stay in touch through a mobile phone they had given her. The police statement says the men warned that any attempt to break contact would result in the release of compromising video recordings made earlier.
Police investigation
Police said that on Friday night one of the accused called the girl, threatening to damage her family’s reputation. The girl was then taken to a tubewell in the middle of a field, where the three men allegedly took turns assaulting her sexually. When she failed to return home after a few hours, her family searched for her throughout the night. She was found around 11 a.m. the next morning, according to a senior police official who declined to be named.
“The girl returned home and recounted the ordeal. There are allegations that the families of the accused threatened the girl and her father,” the officer told reporters. The police have registered the case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections for aggravated sexual assault, criminal intimidation and wrongful confinement. All three suspects have been placed in judicial custody and will appear before a magistrate for further questioning.
Background on child sexual abuse in Haryana
Haryana has witnessed a rise in reported cases of sexual violence against minors in recent years. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) recorded 1,842 cases of child sexual abuse in the state in 2023, an increase of 7 % from the previous year. While the absolute numbers are lower than in some larger states, the per‑capita incidence remains a concern for law‑enforcement agencies.
“The pattern of coercion through mobile phones and threats of video dissemination is increasingly common in rural areas,” said Dr. Meera Singh, a child‑protection specialist at the National Institute of Social Work. “Such intimidation not only re‑victimises the survivor but also deters families from reporting crimes promptly.”
According to a 2022 report by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Haryana’s child‑protection system has been bolstered with additional counseling centres and fast‑track courts, but implementation gaps persist, especially in remote districts like Nuh.
Legal framework and potential charges
The POCSO Act, enacted in 2012, defines aggravated penetrative sexual assault as a cognisable, non‑bailable offence carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. In addition to the POCSO provisions, the FIR cites sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita that address criminal intimidation (section 351‑3) and wrongful confinement (section 137). If convicted, the accused could face cumulative sentences that exceed two decades.
“Under the law, the perpetrator who records or threatens to disseminate sexual content of a minor is liable for the maximum penalty, reflecting the seriousness of the offence,” explained Advocate Rajesh Kumar, who regularly represents victims in POCSO cases. “The courts have been clear that intimidation through digital media is an aggravating factor.”
Following the arrest, the girl and her family will be referred to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for medical examination, psychological counselling and monetary aid as prescribed under the Act. A forensic DNA test will be conducted to establish paternity and corroborate the allegations, a standard procedure in gang‑rape investigations.
Broader implications
The case underscores the challenges faced by law‑enforcement agencies in rural India, where social stigma and fear of retaliation often impede timely reporting. A 2023 study by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) highlighted that over 60 % of child‑sexual‑abuse cases in South Asia go unreported, largely due to intimidation tactics similar to those described in the Nuh incident.
“Addressing the digital dimension of sexual violence requires coordinated action between police, telecom providers and the judiciary,” said a spokesperson for the Ministry of Home Affairs, referencing recent efforts to create a national database of online child‑exploitation material.
The investigation in Nuh is ongoing, and authorities have urged any witnesses to come forward. The police have also announced a sweep of the area’s CCTV footage to identify the vehicle used in the crime, a step that aligns with recent directives from the Supreme Court urging rapid preservation of electronic evidence in sexual‑offence cases.
For more information on India’s child‑protection legislation, see the Reuters report on national rape statistics and the Globally Pulse overview of the POCSO Act.
