Wedding return turns tragic: Five tribal girls gang raped in Jharkhand

A horrific incident of gang rape has shaken Jharkhand's Khunti district, where five minor tribal girls were assaulted by 18 minor boys. 

The Incident

The incident occurred late on Friday when five minor tribal girls were returning home from a wedding ceremony in the Rania area of Khunti. Three of the girls, aged between 12 and 16, were allegedly gang-raped by the group of boys. The accused threatened the victims with dire consequences if they reported the incident, but the girls managed to inform their families, leading to a police complaint on Sunday.

#WATCH | Jharkhand: 18 minor boys arrested in the alleged gangrape of 5 minor tribal girls in Khunti

Anurag Gupta, DGP, Jharkhand, says, " 18 boys have been arrested. All the boys are minors...all the rape survivor girls, in this case, they are being provided all the govt… pic.twitter.com/MECwuq0q2g

— ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2025

Police Response

Police promptly arrested all 18 accused minors, who were sent to a juvenile home. The girls underwent medical examinations, and a case was registered under various sections of the POCSO Act and other relevant laws. The police are considering trying boys above 16 as adults, depending on the legal framework.

Community and Legal Implications

The incident has sparked widespread outrage and calls for swift justice. The Jharkhand DGP, Anurag Gupta, assured that the rape survivor girls are being provided all necessary government facilities. The case highlights concerns about juvenile justice and the need for stricter measures to prevent such crimes in the future.