16-year-old girl found pregnant, fiancé booked

Satinder Pal Singh

Dera Bassi, October 22

A man from Ludhiana was booked today by the Dera Bassi police on a charge of impregnating his 16-year-old fiancee.

The police said the suspect, Parmod, had been booked under Sections 376 (punishment for rape) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the IPC on a statement of the victim.

The incident came to light after the minor girl, who resides in slums on the rear side of Gupta Colony in Dera Bassi, was taken to a hospital by her mother, a domestic help, after she complained of constant stomach ache. The girl was found six-month pregnant by the medical staff, who informed the police.

The police said after counselling the girl, it came to the fore that she was engaged to Parmod.

The victim, in her statement to the police, alleged that she was alone at home when Parmod came to Dera Bassi several months ago and made physical relations with her. The victim’s mother was not at home at that time.

The police are planning to get a bone ossification test of the victim conducted tomorrow to ascertain her age.

It has been learnt that the victim’s mother already knew about her pregnancy and took her for a check-up to the Civil hospital, Dera Bassi. During the check-up, the doctor got to know of her pregnancy and contacted the local police since she was a minor.

Khushpreet Kaur, investigating officer in the case, said the suspect had been booked under Section 376 and 506, adding that once the ossification test of the girl confirmed her age, if needed, sections of the POCSO Act would be added to the FIR.