India: 13-year-old who was raped by 80 men for more than 8 months rescued

A minor who was forced into prostitution for more than eight months and raped by at least 80 men during this period was rescued by police, Zee News reported.

The 13-year-old Indian girl was reportedly sent to several brothels in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The police have been able to arrest 74 people, including 35 pimps and some customers who assaulted the girl. 

The minor was rescued in Guntur.

Reportedly, she was "adopted" by a woman named Swarna Kumari after the girl's mother died of COVID in June last year. She had befriended the mother in the hospital and, upon her death, took the girl with her without informing the father. Kumari then pushed her into prostitution.

When the father lodged a complaint in August, the police began the hunt. The girl was rescued on April 19 along with 10 other criminals arrested.

“Taking advantage of the girl's age and situation, several gangs purchased the girl and took her to several places in the twin Telugu states and forced her into prostitution,” Additional Superintendent of Police, K Supraja, said.