Key facts
- An 11-year-old girl was kidnapped, raped, and killed in India.
- India records over 80 rape cases daily, with sexual offenses against children increasing.
- Activists cite patriarchy, judicial delays, and understaffed police as contributing factors.
- Recent cases in Rajasthan and Ghaziabad have highlighted ongoing sexual violence.
- One suspect in the Baruipur case was killed in a police encounter.
- Rights activists condemn extrajudicial killings as a bypass of due process.
A brutal gang rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in Baruipur, India, has underscored the persistent issue of sexual violence across the country. The victim was kidnapped, raped, and thrown into a pond alive by a group of men, according to police. This incident highlights deep-rooted societal issues including patriarchy, misogyny, understaffed police forces, and judicial delays, which activists say contribute to a culture of impunity for perpetrators.
Despite legal reforms enacted after the 2012 Delhi gang rape case, India's record on sexual violence remains unchanged. In 2024, the country recorded 29,536 rape cases, with a sharp increase in sexual offenses against children over the past decade, reaching a record 69,191 cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). Recent incidents in Rajasthan and Ghaziabad involving young victims have further intensified public outcry.
Activists and legal experts argue that governments have failed to address the underlying misogyny and patriarchy. They emphasize the need for sustained community-level efforts and gender-progressive administrators in the police and judiciary. The government's target of establishing 2,600 fast-track special courts by 2026 has fallen short, with only 755 courts set up so far. In the Baruipur case, concerns have been raised about the initial police response, while one suspect was killed in a police encounter, a practice criticized by rights activists for bypassing due process.