- Teenager had accused businessman of repeatedly raping her in New Delhi, India
- She gave birth to a baby girl in October, but the child died a few days later
- Man was arrested but the victim then withdrew her allegation against suspect
- Court then ordered exhumation of baby’s remains to carry out a paternity test
An Indian court has ordered police to dig up the remains of a 14-year-old rape victim’s baby for a DNA test to find out who attacked her.
The teenager had initially accused a businessman of repeatedly raping her during visits to the capital New Delhi in February last year.
She gave birth to a baby girl in October, but the child died a few days later. Police then arrested the suspect in July and charged him with raping a minor.
However, the victim then dropped her rape claim against the suspect – prompting to court to order an exhumation of the remains of the baby so that a paternity test could be carried out.
An Indian court has ordered police to dig up the remains of a 14-year-old rape victim’s baby for a DNA test to find out who attacked her (file picture)
It is not unusual for victims to withdraw allegations of rape in India, often under pressure from friends or family of the defendant, or in return for a financial settlement.
‘The court has issued the orders but we are yet to get a copy,’ an investigating officer told AFP on condition of anonymity on Monday.
‘We will exhume the body as per the order for conducting DNA tests.’
India has a grim record of sexual assaults on minors with over 36,000 cases of rape or sexual assaults reported in 2016, according to government data.
India has a grim record of sexual assaults on minors with over 36,000 cases of rape or sexual assaults reported in 2016, according to government data. Pictured: Activists from All India Democratic Women’s Association stage a rally
A UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in 2014 said one in three rape victims in India was a minor and expressed alarm at the widespread sexual abuse of children.
In November, a court in northern India convicted two men for repeatedly raping their 10-year-old niece.
She became pregnant and DNA samples from the baby were used to convict one of the uncles.