Case registered under POCSO Act

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 24

The police have registered a rape case against unidentified persons and have also slapped Sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act a day after a 14-year-old Hallo Majra girl, who was admitted to Government Multi-Specialty Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16, was found to be one-and-a-half-month pregnant.

The case was registered after Child Welfare Committee (CWC) chairperson Sangita Vardhan demanded the mandatory reporting of the case.

“Legal action was taken as the treatment of the girl was on. She will soon be inducted in a care and protection programme,” said Vardhan.

The girl was brought to the hospital by her mother on Monday afternoon. On learning that the girl was pregnant, the hospital authorities informed the police, who sought assistance of women and child helpline officials to record the girl’s statement.

Sources said initially, the family was reluctant to report the matter to the police. However, it agreed after officials of the Social Welfare Department counselled the family and told it about the legal repercussion for not getting a case registered.