Indian army jawan on run after being booked for rape of minor

ANDHRA PRADESH - An Indian army soldier - who was posted in Calcutta - is on run after police in Andhra Pradesh booked him for the rape of a minor girl.

According to reports by Indian media, Jonnapalli Jagannadham developed a secret intimate relationship with a minor girl in his native village Gavaravaram, Telugu. He allegedly threatened the girl to keep the relationship a secret, however, it became public news after the 17-year-old student became pregnant.

"The 17-year-old girl, an Intermediate student, is the jawan’s neighbor," said Visakha (rural) SP Rahul Dev Sharma and added, “The jawan developed intimacy with the girl when he came to Vizag on leave in November and had a physical relationship with her.”

According to the police, after the girl took ill, she was taken to the hospital, where doctors told her that she was six months pregnant. The girl’s parents proposed marriage, but the jawan and his parents turned down the offer.

Jonnapalli Jagannadham has been booked by police under Sections 376, 417, 420 and 506 read with 34 of IPC and Section 6 of the POCSO Act.

The soldier is currently on the run.

Anakapalli sub-division DSP K V Ramana, who is the investigating officer, shared, “The accused and victim belong to the same community. We are speaking to Army authorities to track posting details of Jagannadham and arrest him.”