A 13-year-old boy was detained in Chhattisgarh’s capital on Tuesday for allegedly raping a three-year-old girl from his neighborhood, police said. The horrific incident, which occurred Monday in the Pandri police station area, has left the community reeling.

The accused lured the girl to his house in the afternoon under the pretext of playing and offering her chocolate before assaulting her, an official stated. When the child began crying, the boy abandoned her outside her home. Her distress caught her mother’s attention, who, upon questioning, learned of the ordeal. The family promptly reported the incident, leading to the teen’s detention.

Police registered an FIR under sections 64 (rape) and 65(2) (rape of a female under 12) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, alongside provisions of the POCSO Act. The victim was rushed for a medical examination, and her condition is stable, though traumatized. A thorough investigation is underway to uncover further details.

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This case follows a chilling April 6 incident in Durg, where a six-year-old was sexually assaulted and murdered, allegedly by her uncle, highlighting a disturbing rise in crimes against minors in Chhattisgarh. NCRB data notes the state reported 1,657 rape cases in 2022, with many involving acquaintances. 

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