The Class 8 girl, accompanied by a friend, left home around 10:30 a.m. to appear for her pre-board exams. En route, four young men on two motorcycles intercepted the pair and forcibly took them to a nearby forest, according to initial reports.
In the forest, the accused allegedly separated the girls, leaving one some distance away while subjecting the victim to gang rape. Police sources said the perpetrators are believed to have administered an intoxicant to the girl, causing her to lose consciousness.
The victim remained missing for hours until evening, when a local villager discovered her unconscious in the forest and alerted her family. Relatives rushed to the spot and transported her to the civil hospital in Mauganj, where doctors, upon examining her condition, informed the police.
Mauganj Superintendent of Police Dilip Soni confirmed that a gang-rape complaint has been registered. "The girl's statement will be recorded as soon as she regains consciousness," Soni said. He added that four suspects have been identified during the initial probe, though no arrests were immediately announced.
The victim's mother told police that two to three individuals appeared to be involved, based on what she had gathered. Authorities have launched a full investigation, including medical examination of the victim and collection of forensic evidence from the scene.
The incident has sparked outrage in the area, with questions raised about the safety of schoolgirls travelling alone during exam season in rural parts of the district. Mauganj, a subdivision in Rewa division, has seen similar concerns in past cases, though police insist they are treating this matter with utmost priority.
Sub-Divisional Officer of Police Sachi Pathak also visited the police station following the report. Officials said teams are working to trace the accused and gather witness statements from the friend who was with the victim.
The girl remains under treatment in the hospital, her condition described as stable but unconscious. Doctors are monitoring her for effects of the suspected intoxicant and any other injuries.
This case once again highlights vulnerabilities faced by young students, particularly girls, in remote areas during routine travel to schools or exam centres. Police have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
