26 men arrested in India accused of repeatedly gang-raping a 15-year-old girl

(CNN) – Indian police detained 26 men on Thursday in connection with the alleged gang rape of a 15-year-old girl, which occurred repeatedly over a period of nearly eight months.

The victim was first raped on January 29 this year, said Dinkar Mukne, a junior officer with Mandapa police in Dombivli city, neighboring Mumbai in Maharashtra state.

The rape was filmed and the video was used to blackmail her repeatedly over the next eight months, Mukne said. Apparently, she was raped by 33 assailants in total, including two teenagers, and the abuse lasted until this week.

When his family – who until now had no idea what was happening – found out, they took the victim to the police station on Wednesday and filed a complaint, Mukne told CNN on Friday.

The 26 men were detained under the country’s criminal code and separately under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO), which provides for stiffer prison sentences.

Dombivli police are still searching for the remaining seven men who have also been charged.

The latest in a series of recent rapes

The incident is the latest in a series of rape cases and controversies that have horrified the nation and once again exposed its persistent problem with sexual assault.

Just two weeks ago, a woman allegedly raped in Mumbai died of her injuries after being found unconscious inside an open minibus. Activists say the case bears a striking similarity to the brutal gang rape and murder of a student in 2012, which sparked mass protests across the country.

And last month, a 9-year-old girl was gang-raped and murdered in the capital of Delhi. Four men, including a Hindu priest, have been accused of participating in his death.

Deep-rooted gender inequality

Since the 2012 protests, in which millions of women called for stronger measures and protection for women, the government has introduced new laws and harsher penalties. But according to activists, the problem persists, fueled by difficulties in reporting, poor law enforcement by authorities, deep-seated gender inequality and caste discrimination.

Reported rapes have increased over the years, possibly due to increased visibility on the issue. More than 32,000 were recorded in 2019, up from 25,000 in 2012. But many rapes go unreported, which means the true figure may be much higher.

The recent string of rapes in Mumbai has prompted authorities to announce new measures. The police will install security cells for women in all police stations in the city, and will deploy patrol vehicles in the hotspots where crimes against women take place, it announced on September 14.

Other measures will include the creation of a list of sex offenders dating back five years, and the requirement that officers receive training in dealing with victims of sexual assault, which must be completed with an examination before joining the police force. .