Haveri ; A shocking case of gang rape involving a minor girl has surfaced in the Hanagal police station limits of Haveri district. The incident came to light after the victim was found to be pregnant. Police reports state that the girl had met a youth named Uday Kariyannavar on Instagram earlier this year, and the friendship soon took a grim turn.
According to investigators, Uday befriended the girl online in March and later lured her into physical relations under false pretenses. Subsequently, Uday introduced the victim to his friends — Kishan Vaddar, Akash Mantagi, and Chandru Gollar — who, along with him, allegedly committed sexual assault on the minor in April. The crime went unnoticed until the girl’s pregnancy became evident, leading to the exposure of the incident.
Following the revelation, a case has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at the Hanagal police station. Authorities have begun an intensive investigation into the matter. All accused individuals have been identified, and efforts are on to apprehend those still missing. The police have also recorded the victim’s statement and are collecting medical and forensic evidence to strengthen the case.
Officials expressed concern over the continuing pattern of sexual crimes against minors in Karnataka. Despite several government initiatives aimed at safeguarding young girls, over 10,000 cases of sexual assault on minors have been registered across the state in the past three years. The recurring incidents have raised serious questions about the effectiveness of awareness drives, vigilance mechanisms, and community response to crimes involving children.
The investigation in the Haveri case is ongoing, and police say further details will emerge as questioning and evidence collection progress.
