NEW DELHI, Apr 7: A 19-year-old woman was kidnapped and was allegedly gang raped by 22 people over a week in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Six of the assailants have been arrested and a hunt is on for the rest, the police said.
The teen, a resident of Lalpur area in north Varanasi, had left home with a male companion to visit a friend on March 29, which she often did without any trouble. But this time she failed to return home.
On April 4 night, she was apparently drugged and released at the Pandeypur intersection by her kidnappers. She made her way somehow to a friend’s place that was nearby and was later taken home. She later disclosed the details of the ordeal to her father, who subsequently lodged a complaint with the police. The assaults reportedly took place at a hookah bar, a hotel, a lodge, and a guest house in which various people were involved. The complaint mentioned that 22 people raped her.
A case has been registered and the police is interrogating the accused men. Some of the arrested men are from Hukulganj and Lallapura areas, and they were taken into custody the same night. But the police are reluctant to give any detail since some of them could be minors. According to the victim’s father, an FIR was registered at Lalpur Pandeypur police station following the complaint.
Chandra Kant Meena, DCP of Varuna Zone, confirmed that a case has been registered, and the six suspects are currently in custody. “The case is under investigation,” said DCP Meena. He further explained that on April 6, a rape complaint was received at Lalpur Pandeypur police station, adding that the incident occurred between March 29 and April 4.
“Victim’s family initially reported her missing on March 29. She was recovered by the police on April 4. Neither the victim nor her family had filed a complaint of sexual assault. The rape complaint was only lodged on April 6,” he said. “Six individuals have been detained, and interrogation is ongoing,” he added. DCP Meena said that legal proceedings were underway as the investigation continues.
Meanwhile, in a shocking statement, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara referring to a video in which a man is seen groping a woman on a Bengaluru street before running away, said such incidents can occur in a big city like Bengaluru.
The minister has said he has been pressing the city police to improve patrolling. “I keep telling the police commissioner daily to be careful, to monitor all areas through patrolling. This is something I say almost every day. When some incidents happen here and there, of course people’s attention will be drawn towards them. The cops are working 24X7. Some incidents happen here and there. In such a big city, such incidents will happen. We will take necessary action according to the law. I have spoken to the commissioner this morning too,” he said.
In a CCTV video that has now gone viral, a man is seen following two women in an alley at the BTM Layout neighbourhood. Suddenly, he gropes one of the women while another tries to defend her. The man then flees the spot. The women, terrified by the incident, are seen walking away.
Police have registered a case under sections relating to assault, sexual harassment and stalking. But they do not know the woman’s identity because she has not come forward to file a complaint. The BJP has hit out at the Siddaramaiah government over the incident. The Opposition party has said the viral video has exposed the reality of the city’s law and order situation and claimed that Bengaluru is becoming “increasingly unsafe” for women.
(Manas Dasgupta)
