The Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Rajni Shukla has convicted three men for the abduction and rape of a minor girl. The main convict was sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 100,000. His two accomplices were each sentenced to four years of imprisonment and fined Rs 20,000. Failure to pay the fines will result in additional jail time.

The Abduction

According to government and private advocates, the case began on September 3, 2019, when the family of a 15-year-old girl filed a complaint at the Patel Nagar police station. They reported that their daughter had been abducted by a relative from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, while she was on her way to school that morning. The family also stated they were receiving death threats from the accused.

Police registered a case on September 5, 2019. The main accused was arrested the next day, on September 6, and his two accomplices were arrested on October 20, 2019.

Victim's Testimony

In a statement recorded before a magistrate, the victim recounted the ordeal. She said that on the morning of the incident, she met her relative, who tried to force her onto his motorcycle. When she refused, he pressed a pistol to her stomach and threatened her. Fearing for her life, she complied. The accused then made her smell an unknown substance, which caused her to lose consciousness

She awoke in a forest with the main accused and two other men. When she asked to be taken home, they threatened to kill her. The main accused then took her to Nainital and later to Rudrapur, where he repeatedly raped her.

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Trial Revelations

During the trial, it was revealed that the victim had been previously raped by the same accused, which had resulted in a pregnancy. Following a court order, an abortion was performed. However, a medical examination conducted after this abduction revealed she was seven months pregnant, and remnants of fetal tissue were found in her uterus, confirming the repeated nature of the assaults. DNA evidence was also presented to the court to corroborate the victim's testimony.

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