The Chhattisgarh High Court has directed that the counselling report of a 12-year-old girl, allegedly sexually assaulted while living with her foster sister and brother-in-law in Baikunthpur, be submitted in a sealed cover. The court has also ordered that the girl and her nine-year-old brother remain under the care of child welfare authorities until the next hearing scheduled for July 2.

The matter reached the High Court after the girl's foster elder sister filed a habeas corpus petition, claiming that the two children had been unlawfully kept by child protection authorities. During the proceedings, however, the state informed the court that the children had been placed under protective care following serious allegations of physical abuse and sexual assault.

According to official records presented before the court, the nine-year-old boy is currently housed at the Child Welfare Centre in Baikunthpur, Koriya district, while the 12-year-old girl has been shifted to a government girls' home in Ambikapur for her safety.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal directed the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to produce both children before the court during the hearing.

The state informed the Bench that the siblings, who had lost their parents, had been living with a woman they regarded as their elder sister and her husband. During their stay, the children were allegedly subjected to physical and mental abuse. Unable to bear the alleged harassment, they reportedly fled the house and sought shelter with an acquaintance.

The matter was subsequently reported to the police and the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), which arranged counselling for the children and placed them under protection.

During the counselling sessions, the girl allegedly disclosed that her foster brother-in-law had sexually assaulted her. Authorities also learned that her younger brother had allegedly been subjected to repeated abuse. Based on the complaint, police registered a case against the accused and arrested him. The investigation is continuing.

While hearing the matter, the High Court observed that the welfare and psychological well-being of the children must remain the highest priority. In compliance with the court's directions, Koriya Collector Roktima Yadav, Ambikapur Additional Collector Ram Singh Thakur and officials of the Women and Child Development Department produced the siblings before the Bench.

The court directed that the counselling of the children be conducted at the State Judicial Academy instead of inside the courtroom. The sessions were held under the supervision of senior advocate Naushina Ali, Director of the State Judicial Academy.

Following the interaction with the children, the counsellor has been instructed to submit her findings to the High Court in a sealed envelope. Until further orders, both siblings will continue to stay in child welfare institutions to ensure their safety and well-being.

The case will come up for further hearing on July 2, when the High Court is expected to consider the sealed counselling report and decide the next course of action.

Balco Nagar Police Crack Down on Sexual Exploitation of 17-Year-Old

In a disturbing case highlighting the misuse of mobile phones in personal relationships, police in Korba have arrested 10 people, including a 30-year-old man, for allegedly creating and circulating an explicit video of his minor girlfriend to blackmail her. The arrests followed a complaint by the girl's brother after she faced repeated harassment and pressure for sexual favours from the accused.

According to police, the main accused, Hori Lal Chauhan, a daily wage labourer, was in a relationship with the 17-year-old girl for nearly two years. Both hail from the same village in the Balco Nagar police station area. The girl had dropped out after Class 10. What began as a personal affair took a dark turn when Chauhan allegedly recorded intimate videos of the girl without her full consent.

Video Shared Among Friends

Initial investigations suggest Chauhan showed the explicit clips to his friends, who are also labourers in the area. Instead of keeping the matter private, the friends reportedly developed ill intentions. They began making obscene gestures at the girl whenever they saw her and started pressuring her for physical relations.

The situation escalated when the group allegedly resorted to blackmail. Sources familiar with the probe said the accused threatened to make the video viral if she refused their demands. The girl, feeling trapped and harassed, finally confided in her brother. The siblings then approached the Balco Nagar police station and lodged a formal complaint.

Swift Police Action

Acting promptly on the complaint, police registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for rape and blackmailing, along with stringent provisions of the POCSO Act, which protects children from sexual offences. Within hours, a team detained all 10 accused. 

“Initial reports indicate that the main accused and his associates were involved in this conspiracy,” a police officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity. All the arrested individuals work as daily wage labourers in the region.

Accused Sent to Judicial Custody

After medical examination and preliminary questioning, the accused were produced before a local court. The magistrate remanded them to judicial custody and sent them to jail. Further investigation is underway to determine if the video was circulated beyond the immediate group and to trace any other potential victims or evidence. 

Police have also appealed to locals not to share such content, warning that doing so could attract additional legal action under IT laws.

Background and Growing Concern

This incident comes amid rising cases of digital exploitation involving minors in Chhattisgarh. In many rural and semi-urban pockets of the state, easy access to cheap smartphones has led to an increase in such privacy violations, especially in interpersonal relationships. Experts often point to lack of awareness about consent and digital safety as key factors.

The girl’s family has been provided counselling support, and authorities are ensuring her privacy and safety during the investigation. Child rights activists have welcomed the swift arrests but called for stronger community-level awareness drives.

Impact on Local Community

Residents in the Balco Nagar area expressed shock over the incident. Many parents voiced concerns about the safety of young girls in the region, especially as they navigate personal relationships in the digital age. Local officials indicated that awareness programmes on cyber safety and legal rights might be intensified in nearby villages.

The case also underscores the effectiveness of quick police response when POCSO matters are reported promptly. Senior police officers have assured that the investigation will be thorough and that no stone will be left unturned to deliver justice.

As the probe continues, authorities are examining the sequence of events, including how and when the video was recorded and shared. Legal experts note that convictions in such POCSO-linked blackmail cases often result in stringent punishments.

The Raipur district administration has started the process of declaring gram panchayats and urban local bodies as child marriage-free zones under a special initiative led by the Women and Child Development Department. Authorities said the move aims to strengthen awareness and enforcement against child marriage while encouraging local bodies to maintain zero reported cases.

According to official information, gram panchayats and urban bodies where no child marriage cases have been reported in the last two years are being considered for recognition under the campaign. The initiative has emerged as an important Public Interest Story linked to child welfare and social awareness in Chhattisgarh.

Hundreds Of Panchayats Proposed

Officials said that out of 408 gram panchayats in Raipur district, as many as 332 gram panchayats have recommended themselves for declaration as child marriage-free. Along with this, eight urban local bodies out of the district’s total 11 urban bodies have also been proposed for the status. The concerned gram panchayats and urban bodies have reportedly submitted certifications stating that no child marriage incidents were recorded within their jurisdiction during the previous two years. The district administration is now carrying out the verification and objection process before issuing the final declaration.

Verification Process Begins

As part of the administrative procedure, the proposed list of gram panchayats and urban local bodies has been made available for public review at the Collector’s office in Raipur and offices of the Women and Child Development Department. Authorities stated that citizens can examine the list at various project offices, including Arang, Abhanpur, Dharsiwa-01, Dharsiwa-02, Raipur Urban-01, Raipur Urban-02, Tilda and Mandir Hasaud. Officials said the review process is intended to ensure transparency and public participation before the final recognition is granted. The development became part of the Latest News Today updates in Chhattisgarh as the administration pushed social reform initiatives at the grassroots level.

Objections Invited

The Women and Child Development Department has invited objections, suggestions and claims from individuals, social organisations and institutions regarding the proposed list. Authorities clarified that if any person has information about child marriage incidents in the proposed areas, they can submit a written objection along with supporting documents. The administration has fixed May 18 to May 28, 2026 as the period for filing claims and objections. Applications must be submitted to the District Programme Officer at the Women and Child Development Office in Raipur. Officials said all objections and supporting evidence will be examined carefully before any gram panchayat or urban body is officially declared child marriage-free.

Focus On Social Awareness

The initiative is being seen as part of broader efforts to curb child marriage and improve awareness regarding child rights and girls’ education in rural and urban areas. Government officials stated that local administrations, anganwadi workers, women self-help groups and community organisations have played a key role in monitoring and reporting child marriage cases in villages and towns. According to department officials, increased awareness campaigns and community participation have helped reduce instances of child marriage in several regions of Chhattisgarh over recent years. Authorities believe that officially recognising child marriage-free panchayats could encourage more villages to actively participate in prevention efforts and social awareness programmes.

Monitoring And Accountability

Officials indicated that the declaration process also aims to create accountability at the local governance level. Gram panchayats and urban bodies receiving recognition are expected to continue monitoring vulnerable households and ensure that underage marriages do not take place in their areas.

The administration may also conduct periodic reviews even after granting the status to verify whether local bodies continue to remain free from child marriage cases. Social welfare officials said community-level vigilance remains essential because child marriages are often conducted secretly in remote areas or during social functions. The campaign has drawn attention as part of wider Government Updates focused on women and child welfare schemes in the state.

The district administration stated that the final list of child marriage-free gram panchayats and urban bodies will be released only after completion of the objection review process. Officials said recognition would be granted to only those local bodies against which no valid objections or complaints are found during scrutiny. Authorities also appealed to citizens and organisations to cooperate with the administration by sharing accurate information during the verification process.