Mumbai: The Andheri police have booked 10 teenagers, all of them minors, for allegedly repeatedly forcing themselves on a 12-year-old boy from their locality, and blackmailing him into giving them money, which he had to steal from his house. The incident came to light last week, after which the police registered an FIR. The accused have been sent to the Juvenile Detention Centre in Dongri.
15 and 16 years of age
All the accused are between 15 and 16 years of age and stay in the same locality where the victim stays with his mother, who is a widow and works as a housemaid.
“The incident came to light when the victim’s mother found ₹700 in his pocket last week and asked him where he got so much money from. When the victim was unable to answer, she checked the cupboard where she stores her savings and found money missing. She again confronted him and asked him what he needed such a large sum of money for. After initial reluctance, the victim broke down and told her the truth,” said an officer with the Andheri police.
The victim, according to the police, told his mother that around six to seven months ago, two boys from the locality had cornered him while he was playing in the area and forced themselves on him. They later made him indulge in the same act repeatedly and told some of their friends about it, who also took the opportunity to exploit the victim.
Six to seven months
The abuse allegedly went on for the next six to seven months and the accused would take the boy to secluded spots to sexually exploit him. They told him that if he told his mother or anyone else about the abuse, it would only work against him as it would bring a bad name to him and his mother, and that she would not get work anywhere as a result.
“Over a period of time, the accused started demanding money from him, and with no other option, the victim started stealing whatever money he could lay his hands on in his house and give it to the accused,” the officer said.
The victim's mother, after hearing his confession, took him to Andheri police station, and the police registered an FIR and sent the victim to a local hospital for medical tests. Over the next few days, the police conducted inquiries and booked all the 10 accused for unnatural sex under the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. The accused were produced before a juvenile court on Tuesday and sent to the Juvenile Detention Centre in Dongri.
The victim is currently with his mother, but might need counselling due to the trauma he has undergone, the police said.
