Thane Doctor held for allegedly providing abortion pills to minor rape survivor

Thane: A doctor was arrested for allegedly providing abortion pills for the termination of a 17-year-old girl's pregnancy in the Thane district of Maharashtra. A man was also arrested for allegedly raping, impregnating the minor and forcing her to undergo abortion based on fake documents, officials said on Sunday.

According to the PTI report, the dead foetus, which was buried at a crematorium in Ulhasnagar, has been exhumed for further probe into the case, they said, adding that a doctor who provided medicines for the termination of the minor's pregnancy has also been arrested.

The victim and the 29-year-old accused man were neighbours at a locality in Ulhasnagar township here.

In July last year, the accused lured the victim to his home under the pretext of having dinner while his wife, children and parents had gone to their native village, Ulhasnagar central police station's senior inspector Shankar Avtade said.

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The man allegedly raped the minor on multiple occasions and threatened to kill her if she informed about it to anyone, the official said.

The victim later found she was pregnant, and when she informed the accused about it, he provided her with abortion pills given by a private practitioner, he said.

When the attempt failed, the accused's wife, mother and mother-in-law allegedly conspired to force the victim, who was seven months pregnant, for an abortion last month, the official said.

When the victim's parents were away, she was taken to a hospital. The accused provided false identification and age details of the victim, and doctors advised an abortion.

The abortion was subsequently conducted at a civic hospital in Kalyan, the official said.

The accused's wife and mother then hastily buried the foetus at a crematorium in Ulhasnagar, he said.

The offences came to light on February 23, when the victim informed her mother after the latter returned from her village.

Following this, the victim's family lodged a complaint at Ulhasnagar Central Police Station.

The police arrested the accused man on February 25. On Saturday night, they also arrested the private medical practitioner who allegedly provided the abortion pills initially, the official said, reports PTI.

The four other accused, all women, were yet to be apprehended, he said.

The accused have been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections on charges of rape, forced abortion, concealing evidence, and provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the official said.

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