Teen boy gang-raped in K-P bakery

Child rights activist says sections of child protection act should be incorporated in FIR

PESHAWAR: A 15-year-old boy was gang-raped on Monday night inside a bakery near Ghanta Ghar within the jurisdiction of Kotwali police station.

Sulaiman* told the Kotwali police he was working as an assistant with a wagon and was waiting on GT Road for the vehicle on Monday night when a man approached him and told him he was employed at a bakery and they needed another boy to help out. He gave Sulaiman Rs1,000 as advance payment and took him to the bakery situated in Ghanta Ghar area.



Sulaiman said there were several other adults present in the bakery who gang-raped him.

The Kotwali police registered an FIR and started investigation. They raided the bakery and arrested one of the accused. Sulaiman was sent for medical examination.

Implementing laws

Talking to The Express Tribune, child rights activist Imran Takkar said sections 53 and 54 of K-P Child Protection and Welfare Act, 2010 should be incorporated in the FIR. He said according to Article 53, “Whoever commits an offence of sexual abuse shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 14 years and shall not be less than seven years and shall also be liable to a fine which shall not be less than Rs1,000,000.”

Article 54 makes the offence cognizable and arrests non-bailable, non-compoundable and permissible without warrant.

Talking about the severity of the issue in the province, Takkar said, “We as a society have adopted the ostrich approach and denied reality as far as children’s sexual abuse is concerned.”



He added prevention mechanism was needed under K-P Child Protection and Welfare Act, 2010 and there was a dire need to create awareness among people – relevant stakeholders and public.

(*The name of victim has been changed to protect identity

Published in The Express Tribune, July 22^nd, 2016.