Hubballi: Probe launched after minor girl found pregnant again in POCSO case

Hubballi (Karnataka), Jul 18 (PTI) Police have launched a probe into POCSO cases involving two minor girls from the same family after one of them—a 15-year-old who had earlier delivered a baby—was found to be pregnant again, officials said on Saturday. The case was registered within the limits of the Old Hubballi station under the Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissionerate, they said. The incident came to light after an official of the Dharwad District Child Protection Unit lodged a complaint alleging that a 15-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in 2025, after the accused forcibly took her to a deserted spot near a railway station. Following the assault, she conceived and eventually delivered a baby. The complaint alleged that the girl's parents subsequently gave the newborn to an unidentified person, a claim that is being verified by the police. In May this year, the girl was allegedly sexually assaulted again by the same accused, resulting in her second pregnancy within a year. Police are investigating these allegations as well as the circumstances that led to both pregnancies. Speaking to reporters here, Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner N Shashi Kumar said a POCSO case was registered at the Old Hubballi station on Thursday after a 15-year-old girl, who had earlier delivered a baby, was found to be pregnant again. "It is a clear case of POCSO. A 15-year-old girl who had earlier delivered a baby has conceived again," he said. He said the case surfaced during the investigation into another recently registered POCSO case involving a 14-and-a-half-year-old girl. "Both the children are daughters of two sisters. It is all within the family," he said. The commissioner said both girls were under medical observation and were out of danger. "They are not willing to give any kind of statement. We are allowing them to recover health-wise," he said. He said notices had been issued to the family members of both girls and an inquiry was underway. "We have issued notices to the family members and are inquiring into how the entire incident took place," he said. Referring to the first child born to the 15-year-old girl, he said the family had informed the police that the child was unwell and was undergoing treatment with relatives in Karwar. "We will verify that as well. Both incidents are clear cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. There is a need for a comprehensive investigation because many aspects are still unclear," he said. PTI AMP COR SSK