17-year-old girl engaged in sexual relations with several men to find money to buy drugs; 19 people test positive for HIV

NAINITAL: A report from Uttarakhand has confirmed that 19 men have tested positive for HIV after allegedly engaging in sexual relations with a 17-year-old girl. The infections were reported over the past one and a half years. According to reports, the girl, who was addicted to drugs, engaged in sexual relations with men to get money for buying drugs.

The first case came to light in October last year in the Gularghatti area of Nainital district, Uttarakhand. The girl had sexual relations with several men in the area, many of whom later tested positive for HIV. Some of these men were married, and there are fears that the virus may have spread to their wives as well.

The matter came to light after several young men in the region reported serious health issues. Many of them underwent tests at the Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre in a hospital, where they were confirmed to be HIV positive. Based on their statements, police launched an investigation, which revealed the full extent of the incident.

The probe found that the girl, belonging to a poor family, was addicted to heroin and had sexual encounters with several men to get money for drugs.