In a deeply disturbing incident that has shocked the entire
nation, a 19-year-old woman from Varanasi was reportedly gang raped by 23 men
across multiple locations over a span of six days. The heinous acts were
committed between March 29 and April 4, and have triggered widespread outrage
and calls for immediate justice.
According to official reports, the survivor's family lodged
a police complaint on April 6, following which investigations led to the arrest
of 12 accused so far. The names of the arrested include Raj Vishwakarma,
Sameer, Ayush, Sohail, Danish, Anmol, Sajid, Zahir, Imran, Jaib, Aman, and Raj
Khan. The police are continuing efforts to trace and arrest the remaining
suspects.
Timeline of the Assault
As per the complaint filed by the survivor’s family, the
young woman had left home on March 29 to visit a friend. Her mother claimed
that she met a boy named Raj Vishwakarma, who lured her to a café in Lanka,
where he and his friend allegedly sexually assaulted her.
The horror did not end there. On March 30, the survivor
reportedly encountered another boy named Sameer, who took her on a bike ride,
assaulted her, and later left her abandoned in Nadesar.
The following days saw an escalation in the abuse. On March
31, Ayush, along with five others—Sohail, Danish, Anmol, Sajid, and
Zahir—allegedly took the victim to Continental Café in Sigra. There, they
reportedly drugged her with intoxicating drinks and then took turns raping her.
On April 1, another group including Sajid and his friends
allegedly assaulted her in a hotel. She was then raped again by a man named
Imran, who reportedly left her outside the hotel after she screamed for help.
The brutality continued on April 2, when Raj Khan allegedly
took the girl to his house in Hukulganj and attempted to rape her. The ordeal
resumed on April 3, with Danish and his acquaintances—including Sohail and
Shoaib—again drugging and raping her before abandoning her near Chowkghat.
The survivor returned home on April 4 in an inebriated state
and recounted the terrifying events to her family, who promptly approached the
police.
Legal Action Underway
The police have registered a case under multiple sections of
the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including:
- Section
70(1) – Gang rape
- Section
74 – Assault with intent to outrage modesty
- Section
123 – Causing harm using intoxicants
- Section
126(2) – Wrongful restraint
- Section
127(2) – Wrongful confinement
- Section
351(2) – Criminal intimidation
Officials have confirmed that forensic investigations are
ongoing, and all relevant hotels and locations are being examined for evidence.
PM Modi’s Response
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose parliamentary
constituency is Varanasi, has taken serious note of the case. On Friday, he was
briefed by senior officials, including the police commissioner, divisional
commissioner, and district magistrate.
A statement released by the Uttar Pradesh government said
that the Prime Minister has directed authorities to take the "strictest
possible action" against the accused and to ensure preventive measures are
implemented so that such horrifying incidents do not recur.
Nationwide Outrage
The case has sparked widespread condemnation across India,
with women's rights organizations, citizens, and leaders from across political
parties demanding swift justice and better safety mechanisms for women.
As the investigation continues, the survivor’s courage in
coming forward despite her trauma is being hailed as a crucial step toward
justice.