A 14-year-old girl gave birth in Ranchi, Jharkhand, leading to a police investigation. The incident exposed a harrowing case of alleged rape and the subsequent silence imposed on the victim. The minor, from Gumla district, was reportedly assaulted by a man from her village. Fear of reprisal and social stigma forced the family to relocate to Ranchi. The matter was brought to the attention of the authorities when the girl delivered the baby at a hospital. Police were notified and a case was registered. The accused, Shiva Ahir, was arrested. The victim recounted that she had been harassed and then raped by the suspect. Threats of harm kept her silent. Separately, in June, a similar case of gang rape involving a minor tribal girl took place in the Godda district, underscoring the ongoing dangers faced by young girls in the state. Police have made arrests in the gang-rape case. These incidents underscore a failure to protect the vulnerable.
