Eight people have been arrested, and a hunt is on for nine others, for allegedly sexually exploiting a 15-year-old girl over a period of five months in Karnataka's Chikkamagaluru district, the police said on Tuesday.
Among the accused who have been arrested by the police is the survivor's aunt who had pushed her into prostitution, a senior police officer told news agency PTI.
"We have arrested eight people including her Chikkamma (Aunt), who had pushed her into prostitution. Hunt is on for nine others who had sexually exploited the girl," the officer said.
According to the police, the girl started living with her aunt after the death of her mother three years ago.
For the past few months she was working in a stone crushing facility and came in contact with a bus driver who allegedly raped and sexually abused her.
Later, he and his accomplices raped her, made videos and blackmailed her, the police said, adding, her aunt was aware of it and allowed it to happen.
A case has been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code on charges of trafficking, rape and connivance besides Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Immoral Trafficking Act and Child Labour Act.
10 Sixes, 50-Ball Century: Shreyas Iyer Sends Clear Message To BCCI Ahead Of Champions Trophy With Vijay Hazare Knock Bail For BJP's CT Ravi, Arrested For Alleged Derogatory Remark On Woman Minister A Fight Over Naming Baby, A Near-Divorce And Then A Court Intervention Parents On Mumbai Ferry Wanted To Toss Children In Sea. Rescuers Stopped Them Robin Uthappa Faces Arrest Warrant For Alleged Provident Fund Fraud "Who Was Driving?" JD Vance Slams 'Misleading' Headlines On Germany Attack ISRO-European Space Agency Sign Deal For Cooperation In Astronaut Training UPPSC PCS Prelims 2024 To Be Held On Dec 22, Check Exam Day Guidelines Former AAP MLA Sukhbir Singh Dalal Joins BJP Ahead Of Delhi Assembly Polls Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.