15-year-old used as sex slave by aunt for 3 years, rescued

CHANDIGARH: A 15-year-old girl from a resettlement colony in Chandigarh was allegedly forced to live as a sex slave for three years in Karnal, Haryana, by her own aunt. According to a case registered on Saturday, the woman even forced the minor to have a sexual relationship with her 25-year-old son who made her pregnant. She had to go through an abortion.
The girl was rescued from her home in Chandigarh by members of the Chandigarh child-line after a distant relative called up and informed counsellors about the girl's plight.Police, doctors, members of the child welfare committee and judicial officers coordinated to ensure that the minor was shifted to a safe shelter in the city.
Col Ravi Bedi of Child-line said they received a call at 1pm on Friday requesting help to rescue the girl. A team led by Kamlesh Sharma reached her house and questioned the girl and her elder brother. The lady constable was called to the spot to record her statement.
Child-line counsellors say that the girl had been living alone with her elder brother in Chandigarh after their parents passed away until the aunt came in 2014 and promised to look after the girl and bring her up well if she shifted with her to Karnal. In the hope of a better future, the siblings agreed and the girl shifted to Karnal.
But instead of a bright future, a long and torturous journey began as soon as she shifted to Haryana. The woman told the girl to stay in her grown-up son's room. It has been alleged that the man, who was also the girl's cousin, forced her to have a sexual relationship with him. She was regularly given pills so that she doesn't become pregnant. But she did become pregnant at one point and was made to go through an abortion.
While talking to Child-line counsellors on Saturday, the girl alleged that the woman brought her back to Chandigarh several times in the past three years but the trips were only aimed at taking away whatever jewellery, cash and other belongings she had kept with her brother. The 15-year-old girl said life became even more difficult after the abortion as the aunt started forcing her to have sexual relationships with several men who visited the house in Karnal. When she returned home to Chandigarh last week, the family realised that the girl was unhappy. They started quizzing her after which she told them what she had gone through. Col Bedi said the child was medically examined on Saturday night after which an FIR was registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act. Child welfare committee representative Neil Robert said that he had received a complaint about the child. The case will be forward to the Haryana police for further action.