Gang rape of teenage girl: Maharashtra women's commission asks Palghar police to take strict action against culprits

Based on the victim's complaint, the police arrested the eight accused in the early hours of Sunday

The Maharashtra State Commission for Women has taken suo motu cognisance of the alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl by eight men at a village in Palghar district and directed police to take stringent action against the culprits, the panel's chairperson, Rupali Chakankar, has said.

The incident took place during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. The accused, including a friend of the girl, allegedly raped her at an unoccupied bungalow in the beach village before taking her to the seashore where they again sexually assaulted her, a police official earlier said.

Based on the victim's complaint, the police arrested the eight accused in the early hours of Sunday and registered a case against them under various Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections including 376 (D) (gang-rape), 366 (A) (procuration of minor girl), 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, he said.

Ms. Chakankar in a video message said the commission came to know about the incident through social media and has taken suo motu (on its own) cognisance of the same.

The commission has directed the Palghar district superintendent of police to take stringent action against the arrested accused, she said.

Ms. Chakankar said she has spoken to the police chief and got detailed information about the incident.

The culprits will be convicted and stringent action will be taken against them, she said, adding the commission always makes efforts to ensure such incidents do not occur.