Minor gives birth, POCSO case registered in Korba

Korba | Correspondent: A minor Class 10 student from the Kartala police station area in Chhattisgarh's Korba district has given birth to a healthy baby at the Medical College Hospital. Following the incident, the victim has leveled serious allegations against a 24-year-old man from her village, accusing him of repeated sexual exploitation under the pretext of marriage.

Acting promptly on information received from the hospital administration, the police have registered a criminal case against the accused under various sections, including the POCSO Act, and have initiated an investigation.

The victim's family informed the police that Adarsh ​​Kujur (24), a resident of the same village, had been in contact with their daughter for quite some time. He sexually exploited the minor after promising marriage, resulting in her pregnancy. The family alleges that when the student pressured the accused to marry her, he flatly refused to accept her.

The family further stated that neither the accused, who reneged on his promise of marriage, nor any member of his family has visited the hospital to check on her since the delivery. The victim's family is now demanding strict legal justice for their daughter.

Initial legal proceedings regarding the matter were conducted by the Civil Lines police. Civil Lines Station House Officer (SHO) Aastha Sharma stated that a memo was received from the Medical College Hospital reporting the birth of a child to a minor student.

Upon receiving the information, a police team immediately visited the hospital, recorded the victim's preliminary statement, and registered a case (initially as a 'Zero FIR'). Since the incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the Kartala police station, the case file has been transferred to Kartala for further legal action and a detailed investigation; the police team there has now begun searching for the accused and investigating the matter.