Muslim minor groomed, gang-raped in India

NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A 15-year-old Muslim girl in northern India’s Uttar Pradesh state was allegedly groomed and sexually assaulted by a man who police say manipulated her into drugging her own family before carrying out the attack with accomplices.

According to The Observer Post, the case involves a teenager from Bijnor district who was allegedly targeted over several months by a man identified as Titu Pal, a motorcycle mechanic with prior criminal cases.

According to the complaint filed by the girl’s mother, the accused developed contact with the minor through repeated phone conversations and convinced her he intended to marry her. Investigators say he used that trust to coerce her into carrying out a plan that left her family unconscious.

Police allege that on April 5, the man provided the girl with a sedative and instructed her to mix it into the evening meal. Her mother and two younger sisters lost consciousness after consuming the food, while her father was working abroad at the time.

Believing she was eloping, the girl left home with jewellery and cash, as instructed. Instead of leaving the area, she was taken to a banquet hall where, according to police, the accused and three others sexually assaulted her.

The attackers fled the scene with the valuables, officials said.

The survivor later returned home and informed her family, after which a police complaint was filed. Officers said multiple suspects have been taken into custody, including the main accused and two others, while a juvenile has also been detained. Another suspect remains at large.

The case has drawn attention to patterns of grooming and exploitation of minors, particularly in vulnerable communities where access to protection mechanisms and legal awareness can be limited. Rights advocates say such incidents highlight the need for stronger safeguards, early intervention, and accountability to prevent abuse and ensure justice for survivors.