Eight-year-old forced into 'community sex'

Wednesday, February 15, 2006 (Ranga Reddy):

In Andhra Pradesh, the parents of an eight-year-old pushed their daughter into a life condemned to sex work. A political leader in the Dharur village of Ranga Reddy district tied a mangalsutra around Anjali's neck on Sunday.  The idea behind the ceremony was to make the class three student 'available' as a sexual partner for anyone in the village, once she attained puberty.

The man who tied the mangalsutra was to initiate Anjali into becoming what is called locally a jogini. "It is shocking. This case has come to light. But many more such cases are happening which we don't come to know about,'' said C Saila Kumari, District Welfare Officer, Ranga Reddy district. Anjali has been rescued by the authorities and 10 men in the village have been arrested in connection with the case. More…

Source: Uma Sudhir, NDTV.