A criminal case has been filed against eight persons, including six women, in reference to an occurrence during a village in Madhya Pradesh”s Damoh district where minor girls were paraded naked as a part of a ritual to appease the rain god and produce showers within the area, police said on Friday.
The eight accused allegedly paraded six minor girls naked and also filmed the act on Sunday in Baniya village under the Jabera station area, about 50km from the Damoh district headquarters, on Sunday, they said.
They were charged under the Protection of youngsters from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and also relevant sections of the Indian legal code (IPC) and also the Juvenile Justice Act on late Thursday night, Damoh Superintendent of Police (SP) DR Teniwar told PTI.
Damoh Additional Superintendent of Police Shiv Kumar Singh said efforts were on to arrest the accused.
Baniya village and surrounding areas face a drought-like situation and locals believe the ritual will please the rain god and produce showers, the police said.
After the incident came to light, the National Commission for defense of kid Rights (NCPCR) sent a notice and sought a report from the Damoh district administration within ten days, officials said.
The Damoh administration is yet to reply to the notice, they added.
