Delhi, India – Eight years after their daughter was raped when she was just a few months old, Pia’s family (name changed) remains locked in a fight for justice, caught between a slow-moving legal system and complex family pressures.
According to the parents, the incident occurred in 2016, when Pia was only a few months old. The suspect is a relative. Despite reporting the crime to police and filing a case, the trial has dragged on for years without a final verdict.
Pia’s father, Madhav (name changed), said the family has faced pressure from both sides: from relatives who want a quiet settlement, and from the court’s delays. “We can’t give up, but as each year passes and the child grows up, we worry more about how to tell her the truth,” Madhav said.
Pia’s mother, Rakhi, shared her anxiety about the future: “She is growing up, both children are growing. How long can I hide this? How long will I continue like this?”
The family now lives under constant stress, having to protect the mental health of Pia—now 8 years old—while pursuing the case. The family lawyer said the case is stalled due to lack of evidence and interference from the suspect’s family.
This article contains references to sexual abuse. Names have been changed to protect the victim’s identity.
