Three of family held for rape and torture of 14-year-old

Indore police in Madhya Pradesh arrested three members of a family Thursday for allegedly torturing and raping a girl after telling her family that she could lead them to hidden treasure.

Ajay Sonane (23) was accused of raping and torturing the 14-year-old girl while his mother Sunita Sonane (40) and grand-mother Geeta Sonane (65) were accused of helping him, said inspector Neeta Derwal of Gandhi Nagar police station.

The accused were booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), the police officer said.

Waseem Iqbal, director of NGO Childline which helped rescue the girl, said that Ajay allegedly told the victim's family that the girl, being a 'breech birth' (born with legs first), could lead them to hidden treasure.

It was necessary to subject her to some black magic rituals so that she would reveal whereabouts of treasure, he allegedly told the family.

Ajay then began to take the girl to a cremation ground where he allegedly gave her sedatives and raped her.

He also allegedly made the victim walk on burning pieces of charcoal and flogged her, according to the police.

Further probe is on, police said.