17-year-old girl gangraped in Madhya Pradesh’s Pachmarhi forest, three arrested

17-year-old girl gangraped in Madhya Pradesh's Pachmarhi forest, three arrested Police remarked the incident took place when the girl was returning home with a male acquaintance when the accused arrived and took them to a forested area last week.

Key points

• 2 min read Bhopal Updated: Aug 25, 2026 05: 13 AM IST.
• Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, at present leading the bureau's coverage of Madhya Pradesh.
• Police have registered a case under Section 70(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
• Police have arrested all three accused within six hours of the survivor reporting the incident, authorities stated on Monday.
• After her complaint, multiple police teams were deployed and all three accused were arrested within six hours, police stated.

After her complaint, multiple police teams were deployed and all three accused were arrested within six hours, police stated. (File photo).

For context, a 17-year-old girl was allegedly gangraped by three men after she was taken, along with a male acquaintance, to a secluded forest area in Pachmarhi – a famous tourist spot in Madhya Pradesh – last week. Police have arrested all three accused within six hours of the survivor reporting the incident, authorities stated on Monday.

According to police, the girl was returning home with an acquaintance when a friend of the latter arrived with two other men. The three allegedly took the girl and her acquaintance to a secluded spot where they allegedly intimidated them and sexually assaulted the teenager. The accused allegedly afterwards dropped them back and threatened them against revealing the incident before anyone.

Narmadapuram Extra Superintendent of Police Abhishek Rajan stated, "An incident involving the sexual assault of a minor has come to light in Pachmarhi; the incident occurred on the 19th. The victim was returning home with an acquaintance when a friend of that acquaintance arrived, accompanied by two other friends. They took the victim and the acquaintance to a secluded spot, where, through intimidation, the three men sexually assaulted the victim."

Rajan remarked after the victim noted the incident, various police teams swung into action, and all three accused were arrested within six hours of the report being filed. "The three accused have confessed to the crime and are now being produced before the court, " the officer remarked.

Police have registered a case under Section 70(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). It pertains to gang rape, along with provisions relating to voluntarily causing hurt, criminal intimidation and common intention. Provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) have additionally been invoked. © The Indian Express Pvt Ltd.

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, at present leading the bureau's coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand's investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of a number of key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi's trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. As well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking, he has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor problems) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports.

Taken together, the developments around 17-year-old girl gangraped in Madhya Pradesh's Pachmarhi forest, three arrested point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.