The Mumbai Police have arrested four boys for allegedly gangraping a 15-year-old girl and circulating the video of the incident on WhatsApp.
The incident took place on 8 November at one of the accused boys' home, but the case was registered on 25 November after the victim's aunt saw the video. The victim lives with her aunt in the same locality where all the accused boys lived.
All the accused and the victim were students of different schools in Malad, in the western suburbs of Mumbai.
"The four juveniles accused hails from the same locality where the survivor resides. They all are from different schools. The four made the 12 minutes MMS while taking turn after turn raping the survivor," The Times of India quoted Malad police senior inspector Shashank Sandbor as saying.
The 15-year-old girl had gone to one of the boys' home to help him with studies. When she arrived at his home, she saw three other classmates of her also there.
The boys allegedly gangraped the girl and recorded the incident on a mobile phone. The boys then threatened the girl to remain quiet about the incident or else they would circulate the video.
However, a few days later, one of the boys circulated the video on WhatsApp. The girl, who hadn't told anyone about the gangrape, narrated the entire incident to her aunt.
"I visited the accused home in the neighbourhood as usually I go to help him in his studies. On November 8 I went to his home after he requested for help in his studies. On reaching home the four repeatedly assaulted me sexually and also recorded the crime and threatened to make it viral on social sites if I tell anyone," the victim said in the complaint.
"The aunt was shocked to receive the same clip. She showed it to the girl, who broke down and narrated the ordeal. Her aunt immediately rushed to Malad police station and registered an FIR," the investigators said.
The arrested boys were produced before a juvenile court that sent them to Dongri Remand Home. A case of gangrape has been registered under section 376 (G) of IPC against the boys, who have also been charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
