Underage girls who were “raped” stop going to school, refuse compensation

Two minor girls who were allegedly raped by an autorickshaw driver and his friend in Krishna district have reportedly stopped going to school and their family members have refused compensation from the government.

Class eight girls escaped from the school hostel on the outskirts of Machilipatnam on August 6, 2026.

After they reached Koneru Center in Machilipatnam, one of the girls called her parents from a passerby’s mobile phone and asked them to send ₹100. Concerned about how the girl left the hostel at night, the parents called the school principal, who lodged a police complaint about the two girls missing.

Autorickshaw driver M. Vamshi Kiran and his friend K. Siddhu picked up the girls and promised to drop them at home. They diverted the car towards Rudravaram village near Machilipatnam and allegedly raped them in an under-construction building, Superintendent of Police V. Vidyasagar Naidu said.

Based on the complaint, the Bandar Taluka police registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO) 2012 and other provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act 2023. The police arrested the suspects.

Meanwhile, the victims and their family members have reportedly refused help and compensation from the government. According to sources, the minor girls stopped going to school after the incident and family members did not respond to officials’ calls.

Andhra Pradesh Human Rights Federation Human Rights Secretary Pendem Rajya Lakshmi said officials should provide the minor girls with necessary legal help and counselling. “The district administration should take measures to ensure that minors continue their education,” she said.

“We tried to contact the victims and offered financial and legal help from the government. They refused,” said an official from the Women’s Development and Child Welfare Department.

“The girls and their parents handed over written letters refusing financial assistance and refusing to appear before the officials and cooperate in the investigation,” said a member of the Committee for the Protection of Children (CWC).

Speaking to The Hindu, District Collector Krishna DK Balaji said officials will meet the families of the victims and ensure that the girls continue their education. “We will take measures to provide protection to minor girls and send them to school,” said a CWC member.

Published – 03 Sep 2026 23:14 IST