28 Arrested for Gang Rape of 15-Year-Old Girl in Maharashtra's Dombivli

Crimes against women remain high despite strong protests.

(Photo: Lijumol Joseph/The Quint)

A case has been registered against 33 persons for allegedly raping a teenaged girl in Maharashtra's Thane district, police officials informed on Thursday, 23 September.

The accused reportedly raped the 15-year-old girl on multiple occasions, over a period spanning from 29 January to 22 September.

With the arrest of two more accused, a total of 28 accused have been arrested so far, Thane Police said on Friday. The police is on the lookout for the remaining accused.

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The Manpada police in Dombivli had lodged a case against the alleged perpetrators on Wednesday night, based on the girl's complaint.

The First Information Report (FIR) has been registered under the Indian Penal Code sections 376 (rape), 376(n) (repeated rape), 376(d) (gang-rape), 376 (3) (rape on a woman under sixteen years of age), as well as the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The police have arrested the accused in the case from Dombivli, Badlapur, Rabale and Murbad.

"It all started when the lover of the girl raped her in January and made a video of the incident. He started blackmailing her on the basis of that video. Later on, his friends and acquaintances gang-raped her at least on four to five occasions at different places, including Dombivli, Badlapur, Murbad and Rabale in the district."

Dattatray Karale, Additional Commissioner of Police (East region), as quoted by PTI

A special investigation team (SIT) has been instituted to investigate the case.

Leader of Opposition, Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, took to Twitter to condemn the crime.

"Deplorable, Disgusting. Anguished to hear-14 year girl being gang raped by 30 men in Bhopar, Dombivli," he stated.

(With inputs from PTI.)