Raipur Shocker: Eight-Year-Old Flower Seller Raped, Accused Youth Arrested
In a deeply disturbing incident from the state capital, an eight-year-old minor girl, who typically sold flowers or begged at traffic signals to support her homeless family, was allegedly raped by a 20-year-old youth. The accused lured the child under the false pretext of taking her to a restaurant for a meal, exploiting her vulnerability and desperate circumstances.
Details of the Deceptive Lure and Assault
The incident unfolded on Wednesday night at a prominent location in Raipur. The minor girl, accompanied by a juvenile friend, was standing at a traffic signal with her flowers, pleading with motorists to make a purchase. According to police reports, a hatchback driven by the accused youth stopped at the signal. The girl approached his vehicle, hoping to sell the last few petals she had.
Instead of buying flowers, the youth offered to drive her to a nearby restaurant and buy her a meal. Trusting his offer, the girl entered the car with her friend, likely because she was not alone. After driving several kilometers toward a dark and isolated road, the youth asked the minor and her friend to get out. He instructed the friend to fetch food from a nearby eatery, creating an opportunity to isolate the victim.
He then drove ahead to a secluded corner of the road and allegedly raped the eight-year-old. Meanwhile, the girl's family, who reside on the roadside and often watched her from a distance while she worked, grew concerned when she did not return. They approached the nearest police station and filed a missing complaint, triggering an immediate response from authorities.
Police Investigation and Swift Action
The anti-crime and cyber unit was swiftly activated, with officers scanning CCTV footage to trace the vehicle's movements. The car was tracked moving into the Zora area of Raipur. After an intensive search lasting approximately three to four hours, the girl was found abandoned on the roadside in a state of shock and rescued by police in the early hours of Thursday.
Due to her traumatic experience, the survivor was unable to immediately narrate the details of what she endured in the preceding hours. However, police acted on the evidence gathered and arrested the accused youth from the Siltara region. He was taken into custody for suspected abduction and rape, accompanied by a 17-year-old juvenile who was detained for questioning.
Legal Charges and Background of the Accused
The 20-year-old accused has been booked under the stringent provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The juvenile was detained under the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act. Police revealed that the accused worked as a driver for a travel agency, adding a layer of professional trust that was brutally violated.
This heartbreaking case highlights the extreme vulnerabilities faced by homeless children and those living in poverty, who are often forced into precarious situations to survive. The girl's family, who waits daily for her return with meager earnings from flower sales, represents a stark reality of urban marginalization.
Context of Recent Crimes Against Minors in Raipur
This incident occurs just two weeks after another horrific case in Raipur, where a nine-year-old girl was raped over five days by a 65-year-old kirana store owner. That accused was arrested amid local protests, and his illegally constructed house and grocery store were razed by the municipal corporation. The recurrence of such brutal crimes against minors underscores urgent concerns about child safety and law enforcement effectiveness in the region.
Authorities have emphasized their commitment to pursuing justice under the full extent of the law, but the community and activists are calling for stronger preventive measures to protect vulnerable children from such predatory acts.
