In a harrowing case of child trafficking and sexual assault, a 12-year-old girl from Bihar was allegedly sold by her mother for a meager sum of Rs 16,000 and 10 saris to a 40-year-old man from Chandauli in Uttar Pradesh. The man, identified as Lahru Yadav alias Rakesh, a widower, subjected the minor to repeated rape after staging a sham temple marriage. The girl was later abandoned and fell prey to an auto driver before being rescued by locals who alerted the police.
Sham Marriage and Elaborate Deception
Investigators revealed that Yadav went to great lengths to make the marriage appear legitimate. He reportedly spent around Rs 90,000 on a hair transplant in Delhi to appear younger, an amount nearly six times the sum he allegedly paid for the child. The sham marriage was conducted at a temple in Chandauli's Chahania area. After the marriage, Yadav allegedly raped the girl repeatedly and forced her to work as a domestic help.
Abandonment and Second Assault
When villagers and neighbors warned Yadav that keeping a minor girl as his wife could lead to serious legal trouble, he abandoned the girl near Banaras railway station in Manduadih area of Sarnath on May 19. There, auto driver Ravi Verma, a native of Jharkhand, approached the girl, promising to help reunite her with her mother. Instead, he took her near a pond and raped her, according to the child's statements. Verma then dumped the girl on May 21 and fled.
Rescue and Arrests
Locals found the girl roaming and crying in Varanasi's Sarnath on May 21 and alerted the Uttar Pradesh police. She was brought before the Child Welfare Committee, where her statements revealed the chilling sequence of events. An FIR was filed on May 22 against the accused under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections pertaining to rape and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Sarnath inspector Pankaj Kumar Tripathi confirmed that the three accused—the mother, Yadav, and Verma—were arrested on Saturday from different locations.
Investigation Details
Sarnath ACP Vidush Saxena stated that the girl told investigators her mother sold her in January this year. Yadav, who lived separately from his family after his wife's death, carried out the mock nuptials at the temple. The investigators also noted that Yadav spent a significant amount on his appearance to deceive the girl and her family.
The case highlights the grave issue of child trafficking and sexual exploitation in the region. The authorities have assured that strict action will be taken against all perpetrators involved in this heinous crime.
