An 8-month-old baby in New Delhi — dubbed India’s “rape capital” — was left with “horrific” damage to her internal organs after being raped, allegedly by her 28-year-old cousin.
According to Time, the infant is in critical, but stable, condition after undergoing surgery yesterday, and her cousin has since been arrested. Local India news channel NDTV first reported on the alleged crime.
News of the brutal crime has sparked outrage in the country where sexual assault and gender-based violence remain major problems despite efforts to strengthen rape laws in recent years.
Take Action: Tell World Leaders to Redouble Their Efforts By Amending Laws to Prevent Sexual Violence
Child rape in India is not an uncommon crime, the BBC reported. Multiple cases of babies being raped have been reported in the last few years and the rape and murder of a 6-year-old prompted protests in Haryana state last December.
Swati Maliwal, Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the need for "stricter laws and more police resources" in a tweet after visiting the baby in recovery, the BBC reported.
Read more: Despite India’s Anti-Rape Laws, Sexual Assault Is Still a Major Problem
She also tweeted her outrage and was joined by many others who denounced the horrific crime and called for action.
What to do? How can Delhi sleep today when 8 month baby has been brutally raped in Capital? Have we become so insensitive or we have simply accepted this as our fate? Where is the sena which attacked a school bus to 'protect honour'? No one to ask questions from the system now?
— Swati Jai Hind (@SwatiJaiHind) January 29, 2018
Need a stronger word than 'sickening'. New low for male sexual violence in India as 8-month old baby raped by her 28 year old cousin in India https://t.co/4TyTxLWSrZ
— Julia Macfarlane (@juliamacfarlane) January 30, 2018
8 month old baby girl sexually assaulted in New Delhi this has left the country transfixed. A monstrous act needs the most exemplary punishment. When will this rape culture end? These kind of incidents severely puts a dent in my heart!! #Shame#Disgraceful
— Aishwarya sakhuja (@ashsakhuja) January 30, 2018
My heart felt condolences with that little girl. Hanging or hacking that person to death will not help solve the problem...the conscience of India has to rise and take a united pledge to refrain from committing such reprehensible actions. #IndiaAgainstRape
— Mohit Jacob (@humanist_mohit) January 30, 2018
Nearly 20,000 cases of child rape in India in 2016, and now an 8 month old baby left with horrific internal injuries. @narendramodi this is shameful. What is the government doing? 😡🤬
— Apurv Sheth (@smartgeek_apurv) January 30, 2018
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