- विज्ञापन -
Ludhiana:
The Machhiwara police have registered an FIR after the family members of a 17-year-old mentally challenged minor rape victim solemnized her marriage with a man in Ambala despite her being underage.
The FIR has been filed against the victim’s father, her aunt (father’s sister) and husband.
The matter came to light after family disclosed about the marriage to advocate Deepti Saluja to whom family approached for pursuing the previous matter of compensation in the rape case.
After learning about the marriage of the minor victim, Advocate Deepti Saluja filed a complaint with the Deputy Commissioner under the Child Marriage Restraint Act. Following an investigation and consultation with the District Attorney (Legal), the Machhiwara police registered an FIR under sections 4, 5 and 6 of Child Marriage Retraint act.
Earlier the rape case has come to light in March 2022 when victim’s younger sister noticed her consuming her pills and she alerted her aunt about it. Upon questioning, the victim revealed the details of the sexual abuse stating that she was allegedly raped over a period of three months by 65-year-old Sohan Singh alias Sohni, a priest at a Gurudwara in Noorpur village, Machhiwara. The accused used to give victim contraceptives to prevent pregnancy.
In this case, a case under charges of rape was registered against the accused Sohan Singh on March 27, 2022 and Singh was arrested two days later. The police have already filed a chargesheet in the case, which is currently under trial in a special fast-track court.
However, the victim became pregnant due to the repeated assaults and underwent an abortion following a court order.
Advocate Deepti Saluja, representing the victim, disclosed that although a compensation of Rs 4 lakh had been approved for the victim, the family had yet to receive the amount. It was during discussions with the victim’s father regarding the compensation that he revealed the family had married the girl off in Ambala. Saluja subsequently filed a complaint with the Deputy Commissioner.
The police after investigating the case registered FIR against her father, aunt and husband.
