A 12-year-old girl was allegedly raped and brutally assaulted by two men associated with a temple trust in Maihar town, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh, news agency PTI reported citing the police on Friday. The accused, Ravindra Kumar Ravi and Atul Bhadoliya, also inserted a hard object into the victim's private parts, according to the report. The girl was rushed to a hospital in Rewa for immediate medical attention. Both suspects, both 30, were arrested and brought before a local court, which remanded them in judicial custody for 14 days.
"I am not denying that accused Ravindra Kumar Ravi and Atul Bhadoliya inserted a stick or other object into the 12-year-old's private parts. However, this can only be confirmed through a medical report. Her medical report is still pending. Yes, she was bleeding, and doctors are keeping an eye on her health," Satna Superintendent of Police Ashutosh Gupta was quoted as saying by PTI.
A panel of doctors is closely monitoring the victim's condition, and it has been reported that she is currently stable, as per the report. The accused is being prosecuted under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, it said.
Following the filing of a criminal case against Ravi and Bhadoliya, the Maa Sharda Devi Mandir Management Committee in Maihar took swift action and terminated their employment, claiming that their actions had harmed the temple's reputation, it said.
According to the report, the incident occurred in Maihar, a temple town about 45 kilometres from the district headquarters. Before committing the crime, the accused allegedly lured the minor to an isolated area.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan directed the police to take strict action against the perpetrators and to ensure the minor receives the best medical treatment possible, it said.
Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath condemned the incident and compared it to the infamous Nirbhaya case in Delhi in 2012, expressing concern about the state's increasing frequency of such incidents. He demanded that the victim receive excellent medical care as well as Rs 1 crore in financial assistance.