India sees two minor rape cases spark nationwide outrage

A 12‑year‑old boy was arrested in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur district after allegedly abducting and raping his 9‑month‑old niece. The infant remains in critical condition at Baba Raghav Das Medical College. Police have registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and are investigating the juvenile under India’s juvenile‑justice framework, amid broader concerns over minors’ access to online pornography.

In Dehradun, Uttarakhand, a 14‑year‑old Hindu girl filed a complaint alleging rape by a Muslim youth who was the nephew of her landlord. The accusation sparked protests and violent clashes, with a local shop targeted by demonstrators. Police filed an FIR naming several suspects and are conducting forensic and CCTV analysis. The case, also registered under POCSO, has heightened communal tensions in the city.